Artwork

Ecce Homo [verso]

Ecce Homo [verso], by German 15th Century, ink, 1445
Ecce Homo [verso], by German 15th Century, ink, 1445

Ecce Homo [verso] is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1445 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Ecce Homo [verso] is a hand-colored woodcut print on laid paper, featuring a group of five figures in a simple, blocky style.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, half-naked and covered in red marks, is likely referencing a religious narrative, a common theme in medieval art. The surrounding figures wear brightly colored robes, with one holding a staff, adding to the scene's symbolic potential.

Technique & Style

The print's bold outlines and flat colors create a stiff, two-dimensional effect. The use of woodcut technique, with hand-coloring in multiple hues, contributes to the image's graphic quality and stylized appearance.

Context

The woodcut method, a prevalent printing technique, was used to produce this image. The style diverges from the realistic representations often associated with other artistic mediums of the time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 15th Century

Artist

German 15th Century

This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.