Geseling van Christus 1648 - 1657

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut titled ‘Geseling van Christus’, or ‘Flagellation of Christ’, sometime between 1591 and 1658. Sichem was working in a period of intense religious and political conflict in Europe, and he made numerous prints illustrating biblical scenes. The flagellation is a key episode in the Passion of Christ, and it appears throughout the history of Western art. Here, Christ stands nearly centered, bound, and partially nude, surrounded by tormentors who are preparing to strike him. Sichem has contrasted the relative stillness of Christ against the wild gestures of the men surrounding him. They represent the dehumanizing forces of political and religious persecution. The artist invites us to reflect on themes of suffering, sacrifice, and the struggle against injustice. Consider what it means to represent the body of Christ as a site of pain, and how this image may have resonated with viewers during a time marked by division.