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

Ecce Homo - The Presentation of Christ, from The Large Passion, created by the German master Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) in 1498, is a seminal work within the history of prints. This powerful image is rendered as a woodcut in black on ivory laid paper, showcasing Dürer’s pioneering technical skill. Produced during a crucial period of the Northern Renaissance, this piece belongs to his influential series, The Large Passion.

The scene depicts the moment Pontius Pilate presents the scourged Christ, wearing the crown of thorns, to the jeering crowd. This pivotal moment of the Passion narrative allowed Dürer to explore intense drama and detailed character studies within the limitations of the woodcut format. Dürer elevated the German tradition of woodcut printing, treating the medium with the linear precision typically associated with engraving. His mastery is evident in the complex cross-hatching and varying line thicknesses, which create dramatic shadow and texture, far surpassing the capabilities of earlier relief printing methods employed in Germany.

The significance of Dürer’s printmaking cannot be overstated; the accessibility of prints made works like Ecce Homo widely influential across 16th-century Europe. As one of the most celebrated German artists of the era, Dürer ensured his reputation through these highly detailed and reproducible works. This specific impression is housed in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the work is now in the public domain, it remains a vital study source for understanding the revolutionary role of prints in the dissemination of Renaissance religious iconography.