De doornenkroning 1490 - 1503

"De doornenkroning" or "The Crowning with Thorns," is a woodcut measuring 90 by 68 millimeters, by the Master of the Delbecq-Schreiber Passion. The image depicts the deeply fraught moment when Christ is mocked and tortured. The composition, with its closely packed figures, throws us into a maelstrom of human cruelty. The figures surrounding Christ are rendered with grotesque features, emphasizing the stark contrast between his suffering and their heartless brutality. The choice to depict this particular moment in the Passion invites reflection on themes of power, persecution, and the inversion of justice. The identities of those involved—the vulnerable Christ and his tormentors—underscore the complex interplay of victimhood and agency. The artist doesn't shy away from the emotional intensity of the scene, compelling us to confront the painful realities of human suffering and the narratives that shape our understanding of it.