What is Truth. Christ and Pilate 1890

Nikolai Ge’s “What is Truth? Christ and Pilate” was likely made with oil paints, a medium that lends itself well to the dramatic lighting and emotive texture seen here. The handling of the paint itself contributes significantly to the artwork's meaning. Notice the rough, almost agitated brushwork, particularly in the figures' robes and the background wall. This isn't about smooth, flawless representation; it's about conveying a sense of unease, moral conflict, and perhaps even the social upheaval suggested by the biblical scene. Ge was engaging with a long tradition of history painting, yet he was also pushing against its conventions, and the painting's power comes not only from the biblical subject matter but also from the artist's willingness to use the materiality of paint to express complex emotions and ideas. This challenges any easy separation of craft and fine art.