Christ at the Column 1749 - 1761

Johann Baptist Hagenauer created this sculpture, “Christ at the Column,” around the late 18th century. The first thing that strikes you is the dramatic curve of Christ's body; the composition creates a powerful sense of movement and suffering. The artist uses the smooth, cool marble to bring out Christ’s vulnerability. Formally, this sculpture plays with the traditional religious iconography. Hagenauer uses the column not just as a symbol of Christ’s torment, but as a structural element that defines the shape of the overall sculpture. The chains are rendered with a texture that contrasts with the smooth skin, enhancing the emotional impact. This artwork challenges fixed meanings; it invites us to contemplate the convergence of the divine and the human. The formal qualities underscore a dialogue about faith and the body, which has philosophical and cultural resonance. In this way, the marble serves as a signifier of complex religious and artistic ideas.