Ecce Homo, with Pontius Pilate behind him at left, the Virgin fainting at lower left, and a soldier at right 1783 - 1812

This print, "Ecce Homo," was rendered by Pietro Antonio Leone Bettelini, who died in 1829. The composition divides into distinct spatial layers, each defined by stark tonal contrasts. Figures cluster in the midground, framed by darker recesses behind and the lighter foreground. Bettelini masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching to model forms. The linear quality of the engraving lends a graphic clarity to the scene, enhancing its dramatic tension. The figures are arranged in a way that emphasizes their emotional states, particularly Christ's resignation and the Virgin's distress. This arrangement creates a semiotic interplay, where gestures and expressions function as signs, inviting viewers to interpret the narrative. The calculated distribution of light and shadow serves both aesthetic and symbolic purposes, heightening the visual impact of the composition. The artist uses formal elements to challenge viewers to delve into themes of suffering, piety, and human judgment.