Flagellation 1700 - 1800

This drawing, titled "Flagellation," renders a scene of profound suffering through ink on paper. The central figure is bound and subjected to violent scourging, a motif heavy with historical and religious significance. The act of flagellation appears throughout history, from ancient pagan rituals meant to purify or appease deities, to its adoption in Christian iconography as a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. Consider the Dionysian rites of ancient Greece, where ecstatic frenzy and self-inflicted pain were seen as pathways to divine communion. In this artwork, though, the scourging embodies pain and humiliation, resonating with deep-seated fears and collective memories of suffering. These motifs are not merely historical; they speak to the cyclical nature of human experience. The gestures of torment echo in different contexts, revealing a recurring pattern of violence and redemption that continues to engage viewers on a subconscious level, evoking empathy and profound emotional responses.