Flagellation of Christ, from "The Passion"

The Flagellation of Christ, from "The Passion," is a remarkable engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1512. This piece belongs to the monumental cycle known as the Engraved Passion, one of Dürer's most celebrated sequences dedicated to the suffering of Christ. Executed entirely in the demanding medium of intaglio printmaking, this work demonstrates the technical precision that defined German Renaissance artistry and revolutionized the dissemination of religious imagery.

The scene captures the moment Christ is tormented before his crucifixion, illustrating his emotional and physical pain against the architectural backdrop of a prison column. Dürer utilizes dense cross-hatching and varied line weight characteristic of fine prints to achieve dramatic depth and texture, transforming the flat plate into a three-dimensional narrative space. The composition emphasizes the cruelty of the figures flanking the central figure, highlighting the devotional intensity intended for the contemporary viewer. The mastery of Dürer lies in his ability to convey immense dramatic tension within the small scale of the engraving.

As a vital component of the Engraved Passion series, this specific impression underscores Dürer’s foundational role in standardizing and popularizing graphic art across Europe. This particular print is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it serves as a core example of High Renaissance German prints. Because of its historical significance and age, this masterwork is often available for study and reproduction through public domain resources, ensuring its continued influence on students and collectors worldwide.