Artwork
The Passion: Christ Crowned with Thorns
The Passion: Christ Crowned with Thorns is a print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1521 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The lines are sharp and deep, making shadows and muscles pop off the page.
This engraving shows Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. A soldier in armor pokes his side with a stick. Other figures crowd around, some looking angry, others indifferent.
Lucas van Leyden made this in 1521 when engravings were brand-new. The lines are sharp and deep, making shadows and muscles pop off the page. You can almost feel the tension in the air.
Look for how the artist contrasts light and dark—try chiaroscuro.
Overview
The Passion: Christ Crowned with Thorns is an engraving created by Lucas van Leyden in 1521. It is a print held in The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a scene from the Passion of Christ, showing Jesus being mocked and tormented by soldiers. A figure in armor prods Jesus' side with a stick, while others gather around, displaying a range of emotions.
Technique & Style
The work showcases van Leyden's skill as a printmaker, utilizing sharp, deep lines to create pronounced shadows and textures. The contrast between light and dark areas achieves a dramatic effect, exemplifying the technique of chiaroscuro.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist
The Virgin and Child
Worship of the Golden Calf
A Game of Chess
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Inner left wing of a diptych with Christ as the Man of Sorrows
Inner right wing of a diptych with the Virgin as Mater Dolorosa
Annunciation
