Mocking of Christ 1562

Giovanni Battista Castello's "Mocking of Christ," a drawing at the Art Institute of Chicago, presents a dense flurry of figures rendered in brown ink on paper. The composition is tightly packed, creating a sense of claustrophobia and agitation. Castello uses rapid, energetic lines to define forms, which contributes to the scene's chaotic feel. Light and shadow are suggested through hatching, adding depth to the figures. While the subject is a biblical scene, the formal qualities evoke a more universal sense of human cruelty. The artist’s choice to forgo color in favor of line emphasizes the structure of the composition and invites us to focus on the interplay between form and content. The linear style, reminiscent of architectural sketches, imbues the scene with a sense of design and intentionality. The visible grid underneath the drawing might suggest a conflict between rationality and the irrational behavior depicted. This tension between form and subject matter challenges the viewer to reconsider established meanings of religious art.