The Man of Sorrows at the Column 1523

Nicolaas Hogenberg created this engraving of ‘The Man of Sorrows at the Column’ sometime in the 16th century. It’s an image that encapsulates many of the religious and social tensions of the time. Made in the Netherlands, this print reflects the period's intense focus on religious reform and the growing unease with the Catholic Church's practices. Christ, depicted in exhaustion after his torment, becomes a figure of empathy, contrasting with the Church's emphasis on grandeur and ritual. Hogenberg uses stark lines to emphasize Christ's suffering, and the column, a symbol of Roman authority, highlights the injustice of his persecution. To fully appreciate this work, we might explore period sources: theological debates, accounts of daily life, and the economic conditions that shaped artistic production. Art history reminds us that images are not neutral; they reflect and shape the societies that create them.