In this picture if we look at Christ’s face we see the dignified image of the Lord’s defeat, He is laughed at, scourged and wears a crown made of thorns. The painting’s title is Ecce homo, which in Latin means: “that is the man”. The picture is simple and limited by black thick lines. It is probably a memory of the youth works of the painter, who worked as a glass restorer; the lines are also a way to insulate Jesus’ figure from the background.

The precious bright colour he uses along with his choice of representing Jesus with his eyes lowered, are a way to give a personal interpretation of the Gospel story. This choice comes from the deep faith Rouaul had, in fact his spirituality could develop thanks to a special friend of his, the philosopher Jacques Maritain, who was the father of Christian personalism.

The man represented in the painting sends us back to the sense of Passion. He is the lamb brought to the slaughterhouse. He is submitted to God’s will, which was the reason for His coming into the world. He is now fully accepting the cup that He did not want to drink, As an obedient child, He chooses to drink it to accomplish his mission. (see LK 22; 41 to 43)

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head (Psalm 22; 7)