Christ before Pilate: large plate

Christ before Pilate: large plate is a highly significant print created by the master Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn in 1635. Executed on paper, this complex plate exemplifies Rijn’s virtuosity in the demanding techniques of etching and drypoint during the height of the Dutch Golden Age. Unlike many of his smaller, more intimate devotional prints, this large-format work allowed Rijn to manage a vast and complex architectural setting, capturing the dramatic tension of the Gospel narrative surrounding the Passion of Christ. The print meticulously depicts the moment when Pontius Pilate presents Christ to the agitated masses, forcing them to choose between releasing the Savior or the criminal Barabbas.

Rijn employs masterful control of light and shadow, often referred to as chiaroscuro, defining the central figures of Christ and Pilate against the densely packed, anonymous crowd below. The composition uses deep shadows and fine, textured linework to enhance the emotional weight of the scene, highlighting the architectural grandeur of the Roman court balanced against human turbulence. This rendering emphasizes the varying reactions of the public and the profound isolation of the principal figures destined for martyrdom.

As one of Rijn's most ambitious biblical prints, the piece demonstrates his ability to blend historical narrative with profound psychological insight. This exceptional example of 17th-century prints is now preserved in the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Due to its importance and historical status, high-resolution reproductions of this masterwork are frequently available within the public domain for scholarship and appreciation.