Jesus for Pilatus 1596

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving, "Jesus for Pilatus," in 1596. Goltzius was a Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter, whose work reflects the religious and political turmoils of the late 16th century. Here, Goltzius presents a scene from the New Testament, laden with the visual language of power and subjugation. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, sits enthroned, embodying imperial authority. Before him stands Jesus, the man of peace, presented as a subject to Roman rule, surrounded by a crowd that is baying for blood. This composition tells a story of systemic injustice, of the individual pitted against the state, and of the complexities inherent in faith, power, and identity. Goltzius masterfully captures the palpable tension, the emotional weight of a moment where personal conviction clashes with political expediency, where the fate of one hangs in the balance, determined by the many.