De geseling 1455 - 1503

Israhel van Meckenem's engraving, *De geseling*, depicts the flagellation of Christ, a pivotal scene from the Passion, rendered with the meticulous detail characteristic of 15th-century printmaking. Van Meckenem lived in a world where religious art served as a powerful tool for shaping spiritual and moral understanding. His detailed engraving is evocative of the period's complex relationship with religious narrative, power, and violence. The art of the Northern Renaissance sought to elicit an emotional and empathetic response from its viewers. Here, the artist’s focus on the suffering body of Christ invites reflection on the nature of pain, sacrifice, and redemption. The print does more than depict a historical event; it’s about grappling with our own humanity, or lack thereof. It is an unflinching look at the brutal realities of faith and power.