Christus aan het volk getoond (Ecce Homo) 1585 - 1646

This engraving, "Christus aan het volk getoond (Ecce Homo)" by Pieter de Jode I, presents Christ displayed to the masses, a pivotal scene laden with symbolic weight. The crown of thorns, a mocking symbol of kingship, pierces Christ’s brow, while his bound hands signify lost agency. Consider the "Ecce Homo" motif across epochs. From ancient Roman displays of power to medieval passion plays, the presentation of a suffering figure before a crowd carries deep psychological resonance. It stirs primal fears of injustice, the vulnerability of the individual against the collective, and the scapegoating that haunts human history. Here, the faces in the crowd mirror back the viewer's own potential for cruelty or compassion. The image acts as a mirror reflecting our own humanity, and questioning the cyclical nature of history, and how these archetypes resurface time and again.