Christus aan de geselzuil 1550 - 1625

This is an anonymous engraving, titled "Christus aan de geselzuil" in Dutch, which translates to "Christ at the whipping post." The image depicts a moment of suffering and vulnerability. Representations like this one served as powerful visual tools, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of faith, sacrifice, and the human condition. But also, one must ask, who is this Christ for? The remarkably muscular body may represent a cultural idea of masculinity during the period in which it was made. We should consider how the artist's, and the patron's, identities may have shaped the image. The artist is unknown, and it is interesting to consider who made the piece, and what cultural or religious reasons motivated them to create it. What does it mean to depict the son of god in such a physical, vulnerable state?