Christus aan de geselpaal 1618 - 1655

Cornelis Schut created this print of 'Christus aan de geselpaal' – Christ at the whipping post – using etching. The image is defined by the many tiny, precise lines cut into the metal plate with acid. Look closely, and you’ll see how the varying density of these lines creates shading and volume, bringing the scene to life. Schut would have carefully controlled the depth and width of each etched line, a laborious process demanding skill and patience. The social context here is crucial: printmaking allowed for the mass dissemination of religious imagery. This meant that Schut’s depiction of Christ’s suffering could reach a wide audience, reinforcing faith and conveying complex theological ideas in an accessible visual form. The etcher transforms a copper plate into a matrix, a way of making images reproducible and portable, like a miniature devotional object, an idea that transcends the traditional boundaries between art and the everyday.