”What is truth?” Christ and Pilate Nikolay Ge (1831-1894)
Nikolay Ge – ”What is truth?” Christ and Pilate
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Painter: Nikolay Ge
Location: The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (Государственная Третьяковская галерея).
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This painting is of interest not only because of its artistic component, but also because it has several oil layers. The artist was in distress at the time of the masterpiece’s creation, so if society did not accept one of his works, he painted another on top of it. The viewer in the painting can see Pilate coming out of the palace and unexpectedly meeting Jesus Christ. The ruler of Jerusalem halted and haughtily questioned the martyr.
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Description of Nikolai Ge’s painting "What is Truth?"
This painting is of interest not only because of its artistic component, but also because it has several oil layers. The artist was in distress at the time of the masterpiece’s creation, so if society did not accept one of his works, he painted another on top of it.
The viewer in the painting can see Pilate coming out of the palace and unexpectedly meeting Jesus Christ. The ruler of Jerusalem halted and haughtily questioned the martyr. The latter says nothing.
A curious decision of the artist was the use of paint. Pilate, according to Christian doctrine, refers to the representatives of the dark side. But on the canvas he is painted in light colors. This is evidenced not only by his customary white toga, but also by the sunlight falling on him, apparently penetrating through the passage. Jesus, on the other hand, is not just in shadow. His clothes are woven as if they were not of the cheap material normally worn on prisoners, but of something more expensive, but for some reason of a darker color.
There is a faint smile on Pilate’s face, as if he were taunting to his face at the plight of the prisoner. The latter, in turn, looks meekly at the ruler of his lands, and there is no shadow of condemnation in his eyes against Pilate and his actions.
The difference in positioning is also confirmed by the artist’s choice of the body forms of these characters. Pilate has a powerful figure, occupying almost a third of the canvas. He is confident in himself, in his decision. And Jesus contrasts with him. The martyr seems to be cornered. Unlike Pilate, he has hidden his hands behind his back, as if wishing to distance himself even more from the events.
Pilate could not see the truth hidden under the shadow of the saint’s somewhat frowning gaze. Perhaps this is why Jesus is in darkness. The artist apparently wanted to show in this way that the truth of the saint rests far away from Pilate.
COMMENTS: 1 Ответы
ГРААЛЬ
-Чашу сделаешь? – спросил Иосиф
Мастера, и тот в ответ кивнул.
Чтобы мастер был работы против
Не бывает.
Чашу протянул.
Дерево обточено на славу –
Тут столяр не может подвести.
Казнь грядёт. Небесную державу
Оная должна бы сотрясти.
Сотрясает. И завеса в храме
Рвётся – вроде ветхой не была.
В ливне три креста – как будто в раме
Данная картина: мол, дела
Человека в красках мутных, чёрных.
Но Аримафейский кровь собрал,
Действие из надобных и чётких –
Знал, а нет – всего предполагал.
Пейте кровь Христа и ешьте тело!
Пейте кровь учения его.
Мудрости ученья нет предела.
Ешьте слово смысла самого.
То, что мыслишь – мир не так устроен –
Вон бомжи помойки ворошат –
Всходы в сердце искажённых зёрен,
Истинные ведает душа.
Бог-творец – он мог бы совершенных
Человеков сотворить – такой
Мысли ход – хоть он из сокровенных –
Ложен, раз посыл его дурной.
Гусеница что о лесе знает,
Размещаясь на своём листке?
Также человек вотще дерзает
Рассуждать (и с ручкою в руке)
Об объёмах мирозданья, Боге.
Крестоносцы едут, долог путь.
Что у них получится в итоге?
Ничего, но в устремленье – суть.
Где Грааль? над миром чаша смысла.
Храм Грааль, куполовидный свод.
То, что в силе – не отменят числа,
Сумма вряд ли исказит забот.
И Грааль – он искан был веками.
На плащах кресты, горят костры.
Мужество, подъятое на знамя.
Мы аскеты, но мечи остры.
А Христос был просто человеком,
С кармой чистой – будто первый снег.
Указал, как нам идти, как светом
Жить, иного варианта нет.
Есть! – но будут ядерные бомбы,
Баллистических ракет размах.
Будут с правды сорванные пломбы,
Ад земной, и жажда зла в очах.
Коль не за Христом – путь искажённый.
А идти попробуй за Христом
Завистью, тщеславьем воспалённый,
Позабывший свой духовный дом.
Есть Грааль – он приближенье к тайне,
Чью основу ум хотел постичь.
Чаша. Кровь. Ученье. Оправданье
Жизни свет даёт.
Иное – дичь.
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The painting depicts a pivotal moment in religious history: the encounter between Jesus Christ and Pontius Pilate.
In the foreground, on the left, stands Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. He is elegantly dressed in a flowing golden toga, adorned with red trim. His back is mostly turned to the viewer, but his head is turned towards Christ. His left hand is raised in a gesture that could signify dismissal, questioning, or an attempt to grasp a complex idea. The light strongly illuminates his figure, emphasizing his authority and the rich fabric of his garment.
On the right, Jesus stands in a simple, dark red robe, with a draped shawl. He confronts Pilate directly, his gaze steady and perhaps filled with a profound understanding. His posture is calm, yet his presence seems to emanate a quiet strength. Unlike Pilate, Jesus is bathed in a softer light, highlighting the somber tone of his attire and his vulnerable position. A rope can be seen binding his hands in front of him, a clear indication of his captivity.
The setting appears to be an interior space, possibly a hall or courtyard within a Roman official building. The floor is paved with hexagonal tiles, catching the dramatic interplay of light and shadow. The background features a textured wall with a dark doorway on the left, and a warm, reddish-orange hue on the right. The overall lighting is theatrical, with strong contrasts between light and shadow, creating a sense of drama and solemnity.
Subtexts:
The painting is titled What is truth?, which directly references the biblical exchange between Pilate and Jesus. This core question forms the central theme. Pilate, representing worldly power and pragmatic governance, is seemingly perplexed by Jesuss spiritual nature and teachings. He asks, What is truth? with a sense of skepticism and perhaps bewilderment, unable to reconcile Jesuss claims with his own understanding of reality.
The visual contrast between the two figures is rich with subtext. Pilates opulent attire and the strong light accentuating him symbolize his earthly power, wealth, and the established order. Jesus, in his simple robe and bound hands, illuminated by a more subdued light, represents spiritual truth, humility, and suffering for a higher cause. The rope signifies his impending judgment and sacrifice.
The dramatic lighting itself is a subtext, highlighting the divine and the earthly, the spiritual and the secular. The shadows suggest the darkness of human judgment and misunderstanding, while the light on Jesus points to the enduring nature of truth. The paving stones, with their geometric precision, could symbolize the order of the Roman world, into which Jesuss radical message is being introduced.
Ultimately, the painting captures a moment of profound philosophical and spiritual inquiry, questioning the nature of truth itself and its place in the face of political power and societal norms. It invites the viewer to contemplate Pilates question and consider what truth means in their own context.