Flagellation of Christ

Jesus Christ is shown from behind, tied to a central pillar while two men raise bundles of birch rods to strike him. The scene takes place within a vaulted architectural space filled with a dense crowd of onlookers in 17th-century European and Eastern-style dress. A single torch on the right provides the light source, casting long shadows and highlighting the detailed musculature of the central figures.

This print is part of a series designed by Goltzius to emulate the engraving styles of earlier masters like Albrecht Dürer, showcasing the Northern Renaissance concept of the 'Protean' artist who could inhabit the style of others. The work reflects the intellectual environment of Haarlem, where high technical skill in engraving was viewed as a form of natural philosophy and intellectual pursuit.