Ecce Homo, from "The Small Passion" 1509

This woodcut, "Ecce Homo" by Albrecht Dürer, presents us with a pivotal scene from the Passion of Christ. Here, the crowned and scourged Jesus is presented to the masses, a moment laden with judgment. Notice the recurring motif of the pointing finger, a gesture that echoes through art history. We see it in classical oratory, in scenes of accusation and judgment, reappearing throughout time—from ancient Roman rhetoric to Renaissance justice scenes. The gesture is a theatrical invocation, a summoning of collective will, yet here, it becomes a symbol of condemnation. The power of the image lies in this complex interplay of tradition and emotion. Dürer masterfully engages our collective memory, tapping into deeply rooted archetypes of suffering and injustice. By capturing this specific moment, Dürer immortalizes it, ensuring its cyclical return in our cultural consciousness.