Christ Taken Captive 1535

Sebald Beham created this woodcut titled 'Christ Taken Captive'. The work was produced in 1535, during the rise of the Protestant Reformation. Beham was one of the German Little Masters, a group of printmakers known for their small-scale, intricate works. This image depicts the moment when Christ is seized by soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane, an event fraught with religious and political undertones in the 16th century. There’s a raw, visceral quality to the scene. Beham contrasts Christ's calm resignation with the aggressive energy of his captors. Notice the figures' faces: the soldiers' are contorted with malice, while Christ's conveys a sense of sorrowful acceptance. What does it mean to render a divine figure in such a human, vulnerable way? This woodcut reflects a period of intense religious upheaval, questioning established power structures. Beham invites us to confront not only the historical narrative, but also the emotional and personal dimensions of faith.