Jesus before Pilate (1644–52)
Original title: Jesus before Pilate
kurzbeschreibung
Wenceslaus Hollar etched this scene of Jesus being presented to the Roman governor between 1644 and 1652. The sheet measures 9.1 × 6.2 cm and survives in a single state; it belongs to a series of depictions from the life of Christ.
Description
A raised platform forms the focal point, with a figure in Roman attire and a head covering, likely Pilate. Several men in varied clothing stand around the event, some holding staffs or objects. Buildings and a city wall indicate a public square in the background. Candlesticks, lanterns and other sacred objects are carried by the figures. Fine lines and hatching define the motif, with light falling evenly across the surface.
Context
Hollar, a Bohemian printmaker, worked in England and on the continent during the Thirty Years' War. In a phase of work for various publishers, he produced biblical subjects in small format. Devotional images of this kind were sought after in the 17th century for private piety and for collections. The series to which this sheet belongs follows the iconographic tradition of Passion depictions.
Impact
The fine line and the crowded layout give the event a calm, narrative presence. Despite the small format, the print gains noticeable depth through the clear division of foreground and background.
Technique
For the etching in the only state, the drawing was scratched into an acid ground on the copper plate and then etched. The monochrome print on paper reveals the characteristics of the process: evenly fine lines and dense hatching used to work out forms and shadows.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)