Pilatus breekt het riet 1589

"Pilatus breekt het riet" (Pilate breaks the reed), an etching by Johann Sadeler I, depicts the moment when Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, presents Jesus to the crowd, offering them a choice between releasing Jesus or Barabbas. Jesus, bound and wearing a crown of thorns, lies prostrate on the ground. Sadeler's detailed composition, created in 1589, highlights the somber scene with stark contrasts in light and shadow. This artwork, now held at the Rijksmuseum, provides a poignant visual interpretation of a pivotal moment in Christian history, highlighting the tension and drama of the event.