1597
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Christ Crowned with Thorns is a 1597 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a chaotic scene with Christ at the center, slumped and crowned with thorns. Around him, soldiers in hats and armor shove sticks into his hands, while one man laughs, holding a reed like a scepter. In the background, a town with towers and a church sits under an archway, and a few onlookers watch from a raised platform. Notice how the artist uses deep shadows and fine lines to show every muscle and fold of cloth—this isn’t just a story, it’s a study of pain and power. Try looking up engraving to see how artists like this carved intricate details into metal.
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
See the richer artist page
