Crowning with Thorns
1631
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Jacques Callot
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.
See the richer artist page1631
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Crowning with Thorns is a 1631 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a group of rough-looking men crowding around a central figure who’s kneeling. One man holds a bundle of thorns, while others grab the figure’s arms. The scene takes place under an archway with columns, and a temple-like building looms in the background. The people’s faces are blurred, but their gestures look angry or mocking. The title *Crowning with Thorns* hints this is about a well-known moment of humiliation. The artist used a sharp, scratchy style to show the chaos—this was a common way to make etchings look dramatic. Next, check out how etching works to see how artists like this carved lines into metal plates.
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.
See the richer artist page
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