Geseling van Christus 1670 - 1682

Melchior Küsel’s print, "Geseling van Christus," presents a complex scene rendered with fine lines and dense cross-hatching. The use of black ink on a white background gives it a stark, dramatic quality. The architectural setting looms large, framing the human drama unfolding at its base. The composition is structured around the contrast between the rigid, imposing classical architecture and the chaotic, violent action of the flagellation. The colonnades and statuary suggest order and law, yet they are juxtaposed with the irrationality of human cruelty. The artist employs linear perspective to draw the viewer's eye toward the center, where the body of Christ becomes a focal point amidst the turmoil. The texture created by the engraving technique adds depth and intensity to the scene, emphasizing the physical suffering and the emotional weight of the event. The interplay between light and shadow, meticulously crafted by Küsel, underscores the inherent tension between divine order and human fallibility.