Artwork
Ecce Homo
Ecce Homo is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1480 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Martin Schongauer's Ecce Homo, created circa 1480, is a notable engraving by the prominent Alsatian artist, one of 116 surviving prints from his oeuvre.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the moment Christ is presented to the crowd by Pontius Pilate, with Jesus shown in a doorway, wearing a crown of thorns and draped cloth, surrounded by soldiers and onlookers.
Technique & Style
Characteristic of Schongauer's work, the engraving showcases meticulous line precision and intricate textures, enhanced by cross-hatching to achieve depth, dimensionality, and realism.
History & Provenance
Schongauer, active in Colmar and Breisach, was the preeminent printmaker north of the Alps before Albrecht Dürer, reflecting his goldsmith training in the engraving's detailed craftsmanship.
Legacy
Schongauer's influence extended to younger artists, notably Dürer, solidifying his importance in the evolution of printmaking.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer (c. 1450–1453, Colmar – 2 February 1491, Breisach), also known as Martin Schön ("Martin beautiful") or Hübsch Martin ("pretty Martin") by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter. He…
