The Flagellation of Christ, from The Passion of Christ

Christ stands tied to a massive central column, his body twisted in a dramatic pose as two men raise whips and bundles of rods to strike him. In the foreground, a figure kneels to prepare more implements of torture, while onlookers and a torchbearer fill the surrounding spaces of the classical courtyard. The engraving employs dense, rhythmic line work to emphasize the physical anatomy of the figures and the harsh play of light and shadow.

This print is part of Goltzius's 'Passion' series, famously created in the style of Albrecht Dürer to demonstrate his technical virtuosity and the revival of Northern Renaissance aesthetics. In the context of early modern spirituality, such images served as focal points for the 'Imitatio Christi,' where the physical suffering of the body was meditated upon as a necessary stage for spiritual purification and the refinement of the soul.