"What is Truth?"(Christ and Pilate) is a philosophical historical painting by Nikolai Ge. He was very interested in depicting his version of Christ's life and depicting the deep philosophical nature in the events of his life. This painting is one such work where he has shown Pilate and Christ as mirrors to each other. Pontius Pilate was the governor appointed to the Roman province of Judaea. He has no other historical evidence except for a violent quashing of a Samaritan uprising for which he was dismissed from his post and ordered to return to Rome. In the Bible, Pilate was the man who held the trial for Jesus, offering the public a choice between Jesus' freedom or a homicidal criminal named Barabas. He also mocks Jesus and calls him the "King of Jews" while Jesus remains stoic and calm; this shakes Pilate to his core. This painting shows the moment between his mockery and being taken aback. He is smug and holds the swagger of being a governor of the strongest empire in that era. His robes are fine linen that only the richest men could afford. He is well-fed, healthy and confident in the strength of his empire to continue to give him power to decide the fates of men. In stark contrast, Jesus will soon be subject to several rounds of torture, including whipping, a crown of thorns, public humiliation and finally, crucifixion, a death reserved for only the greatest of crimes. This man standing before Pilate is only there because of his claim that he is the son of God who has come to save all mankind. The escalation was carried out by the Jewish high Priests and Pharisees who cried let the sin of his death be on us and our children while Pontius Pilate washed his hands of Jesus' blood, seeing his innocence. However, in the image, Pilate is trying to find out if Jesus is truly innocent while Jesus is a mere man, bedraggled and emotionally preparing for what is to befall him in the next 24 hours. The browns and reds that form Jesus, highlight his position in the shadow while Pilate basks in the sunlight that turns his pure white robes into gold. His appearance is royal and almost divine, while Jesus is the epitome of humanity, wearing worn robes, a darker skinned, Middle Eastern man. From his eyes it is possible to see he is fighting the very human inner conflict to deny everything and stay alive.
The striking difference between Christ and Pilate is masterfully painted. In his arrogance, Pilate has turned away from the light; it falls on his robes and washes over his back, yet he keeps looking into the shadows. In contrast, Christ stands in the darkness, and yet the faintest light falls on his eyes, illuminating his face. He sees his future clearly while Pilate is blinded. What stands out most is how the artist painted Christ’s grim appearance. By painting Christ without a halo, the figure appears vulnerable and human, holding a deep sense of acceptance of his future.
