Christ Presented to the People: Oblong Plate

Christ Presented to the People: Oblong Plate is a masterful print created in 1655 by Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669. Executed in drypoint on white laid paper, this work showcases the dramatic intensity that defined the artist's mature period in the Netherlands. The drypoint technique, characterized by the artist incising directly into the copper plate, creates a rich, velvety line and deep tonal contrast due to the burr left behind, offering a visual texture distinct from standard etching.

The work tackles the New Testament subject of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), depicting Pontius Pilate presenting the bound and suffering Christ to the demanding crowd from an elevated platform. The composition is expansive and dense, utilizing the oblong format to emphasize the breadth of the clamoring multitude below the tribune. Rembrandt contrasts the static, vulnerable figure of Christ with the teeming masses, whose individual expressions capture the political and religious frenzy of the moment. The dramatic use of light and shadow serves to isolate and heighten the spiritual weight of the central confrontation.

Created during a period of intense financial hardship but great artistic innovation for the artist, this piece demonstrates Rembrandt’s unparalleled ability to convey profound narrative and emotional depth through monochrome lines. As one of the most significant figures of the Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt’s technical experimentation revolutionized the art of prints. This specific impression of Christ Presented to the People: Oblong Plate is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, furthering the study and public domain accessibility of the renowned master's drypoint works.