Tornekroningen 1568

Editor: Here we have “Tornekroningen,” or “The Crowning with Thorns,” a print rendered in intaglio and engraving. It was created around 1568 by an anonymous artist and resides at the SMK in Copenhagen. It depicts a moment of suffering, of violence, with incredible detail despite the small scale. What's striking is how this intimate medium translates such a monumental scene. What can you tell me about its historical significance? Curator: This piece exemplifies the potent intersection of religious narrative and socio-political climate during the late Renaissance. Consider how the circulation of prints allowed for widespread dissemination of imagery; it brought religious and political propaganda directly into homes. Editor: Propaganda? It looks so…devotional. Curator: Indeed, but what devotion serves which power? This image, with its stark depiction of Christ’s suffering, plays into established visual traditions. But it simultaneously served agendas tied to the Counter-Reformation. Reflect on how this scene reinforces loyalty by visually associating defiance with the brutal punishment inflicted upon Christ. How might that affect public sentiment towards perceived religious dissenters at the time? Editor: That’s a really interesting point; it hadn't occurred to me that a devotional image could also be a tool to influence popular opinion in a politically charged time. Now that I think about it, it's impossible not to consider it. Curator: Precisely. And that tension between devotion and public role shaped the experience of art for both patrons and audiences in this era. Recognizing it reshapes how we interpret art's role, both then and now. Editor: Thanks. It makes you consider the messages within the art but also consider that maybe they are speaking to something larger than what you see at first glance.