The “Flagellation of Christ” is a woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer around 1497. This piece is part of “The Large Passion” series and is a prime example of the Northern Renaissance art movement, characterized by its detailed representation and religious subject matter. The artwork falls under the genre of religious painting and currently resides at the Albertina Museum in Vienna, Austria.
In the woodcut, we see a detailed and crowded scene depicting the flagellation of Christ. Central to the image is the figure of Christ, who is bound and being whipped by two tormentors. He is positioned slightly to the right of center and stands with a passive demeanor amidst the brutality of the event. The scene is set against an architectural backdrop, likely to suggest the courtyard of a palace or a temple. Around Christ, there is a throng of onlookers, some of whom seem engrossed in the violence, displaying various expressions and reactions to the event. The attention to detail is meticulous, with textures and patterns such as the armor of the soldiers, the pilasters of the architecture, and the flowing draperies all distinctly rendered, demonstrating Dürer’s mastery of the woodcut medium. The composition of the crowd, the dramatic intensity of the moment, and the intricate details all serve to create a powerful narrative image, reflective of Dürer’s skill and the artistic tendencies of the time.
