The artwork “The Crucifixion,” created by Thomas Eakins in 1880, is an oil on canvas that is emblematic of the Realism art movement. Measuring 54 by 96 cm, this religious painting is a solemn representation of the Biblical scene of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The artwork is housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it contributes to the institution’s narrative of religious and historical themes.
In the artwork, one witnesses a most intimate and realistic portrayal of the crucifixion. The figure of Jesus Christ is centered and dominates the canvas, depicted with anatomical precision—a testament to Eakins’ known interest in human anatomy. His body is shown in a state of vulnerability and suffering, with a crown of thorns upon his head, while his arms are outstretched and nailed to the horizontal beam of the cross. The loincloth draped around his waist is the only piece of cloth on his otherwise bare body, which is rendered with a sense of weight and physicality indicative of Eakins’ skillful handling of the human form.
Above the head of Christ, a sign bearing an inscription is affixed to the cross, while the bleak and barren background serves to emphasize the figure’s isolation and the magnitude of the moment. The stark lighting and lack of other figures or elaborate scenery align with the principles of Realism, focusing on the corporeal experience and the visceral reality of the event rather than its spiritual or symbolic significances that are often highlighted in other artistic traditions. The somber palette and careful attention to the textures and details of the flesh and wood further imbue the scene with a tangible sense of gravitas and poignancy.
