Pilatus toont Christus aan het volk c. 1591 - 1613

Balthasar Caymox created this print, "Pilatus toont Christus aan het volk," which translates to "Pilate presents Christ to the people", sometime before his death in 1635. Notice how Caymox uses stark contrasts of light and shadow to direct our eyes to Christ, who stands almost centrally in the composition, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. The artist's use of line is particularly striking, as it not only defines the figures but also contributes to the overall sense of drama and tension. The detailed rendering of the textures, from the fur of the garments to the crown of thorns, adds a tactile quality to the scene. This creates a visual semiotic where textures and shadows convey deeper meanings. The composition challenges us to consider how power and judgement are visually constructed, and the way in which the artist destabilizes fixed meanings.