Ecce Homo - The Presentation of Christ, from The Large Passion

Ecce Homo - The Presentation of Christ, from The Large Passion is a powerful woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, in 1498. This dramatic print is a central component of Dürer’s renowned The Large Passion series, which fundamentally redefined the expressive potential of the relief printing medium in late 15th century Germany. The work is executed in black ink on ivory laid paper, showcasing the exceptional detail and high contrast Dürer achieved by employing advanced carving techniques.

The composition depicts Pontius Pilate displaying the bound and scourged Christ, wearing the crown of thorns, to the clamoring populace below. Dürer’s technical mastery transformed the traditionally stark aesthetic of the woodcut into an expressive narrative vehicle, filling the scene with intense psychological tension and drama. By utilizing dense cross-hatching and varied line weight, Dürer achieved subtle gradations of shadow and texture, allowing him to render architecture and complex drapery with a richness previously associated only with copper engravings. This masterful application of line fundamentally raised the status of the print medium, making such complex religious narratives accessible to a broader audience across Europe.

Created during a foundational period of the German Renaissance, this influential work demonstrates Dürer’s early mature style and his unmatched ability to combine classical principles with Northern intensity. The work’s creation in 1498 cemented Dürer's reputation as the preeminent printmaker of his generation. This rare impression of Ecce Homo - The Presentation of Christ is maintained in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it stands as a prime example of the innovative prints that established Dürer’s international fame. The continued study and availability of such high-quality reproductions through public domain efforts underscores the lasting global impact of this 1498 German masterwork.