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Christ Mocked, 1886

  • etching, paper
  • 230 x 150 mm
  • Inv. 1998-B-1

Public Domain

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"Christ Mocked" or "Christ as Ecce Homo" is considered to be Ensor's first etching. Since the Middle Ages, the theme has recurred regularly in art. Moreover, Ensor repeatedly took his inspiration from ancient art. Here the composition, the Orientalist figures and the lighting effects refer to Rembrandt. Gustave Doré's chiaroscuro was also an inspiration. Typologically, the work of Jacques Callot also served as a model, for example in the man on crutches and the soldier. On the other hand, the sculpted lion opposite Pontius Pilate (seated on the podium) refers to the etching "Chimaera", created in 1888 (inv. 1998-B-25). The etching is based on two drawings by Ensor from 1885 on the same theme (Düsseldorf, Kunstmuseum, inv. K. 1983-74; MSK Ghent, inv. 1988-C, part of the series "The Aureoles of Christ").

Artist

James Ensor RKD VIAF Wikidata
Ostend 1860 - Ostend 1949
etchersAAT

Title Christ Mocked
Date 1886
Period 19th century
Medium and support etching AAT
Signatures, inscriptions, and markings signature, year and title bottom right: James Ensor 1886 / Le christ montré au peuple
inscription on the reverse: AT
inscription on the reverse: 15 / D1
Collection print room
Object type etching AAT
Inventory number 1998-B-1
Acquisition credit purchase
Taevernier, Auguste (coll.)
1998
Current whereabouts Work currently not on display
Permalink https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/1998-B-1
IIIF Manifest https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/3989/manifest.json
Art & Architecture Thesaurus 300055874 religious symbolism AAT
Keywords Iconclass 33B11 mocking, insulting; teasing Iconclass
73 New Testament Iconclass
73C public life of Christ: from his baptism until the Passion Iconclass
73D353 mockings of Christ, who may be blindfolded Iconclass
73D36 Pilate showing Christ to the people, 'Ostentatio Christi', 'Ecce Homo' (John 19:4-6) Iconclass
School / Style Symbolism (artistic concept) AAT
phantasy
historicism (theory) AAT
James Ensor : Catalogue illustré de ses gravures ; Leur description critique et l'inventaire des plaques = Geïllustreerde catalogus van zijn gravures ; Hun kritische beschrijving en inventaris van de platen = Illustrated catalogue of his engravings ; Their critical description and inventary of the plates / Auguste Taevernier. - Ledeberg (Gent) : Erasmus Boekhandel bv Amsterdam, 1973 (nr. 1)
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