”What is truth?” Christ and Pilate Nikolay Ge (1831-1894)

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.