Christ Presented to the People: Oblong Plate

Christ Presented to the People: Oblong Plate is a monumental print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1655. This exceptional work, classified as a print, was executed entirely in drypoint, a demanding intaglio technique where a sharp needle incises lines directly into the copper plate. The resulting ridges, known as the burr, hold the ink and yield the characteristic rich, velvety lines seen in the earliest impressions. The subject, often referred to as Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), depicts the solemn biblical moment when Pontius Pilate displays the bound Christ to the volatile populace, asking them to choose between his release and that of the criminal Barabbas.

Executed during a critical period (1651 to 1700) in the artist’s life, this piece demonstrates Rijn’s unparalleled command of psychological narrative and tonal drama, a hallmark of 17th-century Dutch graphic arts. Rijn utilizes the elongated, oblong format of the plate to stage the crowd horizontally across the composition, creating a dense, vast array of citizens, officials, and onlookers filling the tiered architecture surrounding the central action. The use of pure drypoint allows the artist to push the boundaries of chiaroscuro, contrasting brilliantly lit areas with profound, dark shadows that heighten the tension of the scene and emphasize the isolation of Christ.

Considered one of Rijn's supreme achievements in prints, the work’s technical complexity reflects the artist’s late-career experimentation. The profound emotional weight and scale of the piece elevate it beyond a simple illustration. This valuable impression of Christ Presented to the People: Oblong Plate is part of the extensive collection of the National Gallery of Art. Today, high-quality images of this powerful Dutch masterpiece are often available for study through public domain art initiatives, ensuring this essential historical work remains accessible to researchers and enthusiasts worldwide.