Christ, Man of Sorrows, Mocked by a Soldier, frontispiece from The Large Passion

Christ, Man of Sorrows, Mocked by a Soldier, frontispiece from The Large Passion is a monumental woodcut created in 1511 by the German master Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528. This image served as the dramatic introductory print for Dürer’s renowned series, The Large Passion, a cornerstone achievement of Northern Renaissance printmaking.

Executed as a woodcut in black ink on fine ivory laid paper, the work demonstrates the artist’s unparalleled command over the demanding medium. Dürer utilized the inherent contrast of the woodcut to maximize the emotional impact, employing fine, cross-hatching techniques to achieve tonal complexity and textural realism often associated with copper engraving. The artist transcended the existing technical limitations of the woodcut, transforming it into a powerful and sophisticated vehicle for detailed narrative art.

The composition focuses on Christ as the Man of Sorrows, stripped and crowned with thorns, enduring the callous ridicule of a sneering soldier. This intense concentration on Christ's physical suffering and humiliation was deeply resonant in 16th-century Germany, reflecting the period's emphasis on personal identification with the Passion narrative. The ability of prints to reach a massive audience ensured Dürer’s visual interpretations circulated widely across Europe, solidifying his reputation.

This historically significant piece of Renaissance Germany graphic art now resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a crucial example of early modern prints, the work continues to be studied for its artistic innovation and religious iconography. Because this masterwork is now in the public domain, its dramatic intensity and technical brilliance remain accessible to scholars and the public worldwide.