Doornenkroning van Christus c. 1661

This 17th-century print by Monogrammist GK depicts the crowning of Christ with thorns, a pivotal scene from the Passion. It exists amidst the religious and social upheavals of the early modern period. Enclosed within an ornamental border, we see the figure of Christ, subjected to humiliation and physical violence. Soldiers surround him, mocking his claim to kingship. The thorn crown, a symbol of suffering, pierces his brow. This evokes questions about the relationship between power, persecution, and religious identity. Crucially, the artist chooses to focus on the body of Christ. It becomes a site of struggle and a mirror reflecting themes of injustice and human fallibility. The choice to foreground the body underscores the raw, visceral experience of the Passion. This print does more than illustrate a biblical story; it asks us to confront the painful intersection of faith, power, and human cruelty.