De geeseling van onzen zaligmaeker Jesus Christus 1800 - 1833

Philippus Jacobus Brepols created this print, "The Flagellation of Jesus Christ," sometime before 1845. Brepols was active during a period of significant social and political upheaval in Europe, marked by the rise of nationalism and various religious movements. Here, Brepols depicts a brutal scene from the Bible: Christ tied to a pillar, enduring physical violence. What strikes me is the way Brepols balances the graphic nature of the flagellation with an almost stylized composition. The figures are rendered with a certain flatness, and the colors, while vivid, have a quality that reminds us of a popular print. The emotional weight of this image lies in the suffering of Christ, but it also speaks to the broader themes of faith, sacrifice, and redemption. The artwork neither fully embraces traditional religious iconography nor does it completely break away from it. Instead, it exists in a space between devotion and artistic expression. Ultimately, Brepols’s print serves as both a religious artifact and a reflection of the complex cultural landscape of his time.