The Flagellation

The Flagellation by Albrecht Dürer, executed in 1512, stands as a prime example of the master’s enduring dedication to the art of printmaking. This precise engraving on laid paper showcases Dürer’s unparalleled technical ability to create dramatic depth and texture using complex systems of burin lines and cross-hatching. The technical demands of the medium were perfectly suited to the meticulous style of this German artist, allowing him to render the intense physicality and emotional distress inherent in the biblical narrative.

The work depicts Christ bound to a column as two executioners prepare or execute the scourging, a core event in the Passion cycle. Dürer’s composition focuses tightly on the central figures, utilizing Renaissance principles of anatomy and dramatic light to heighten the tension of the scene. Although small in scale, the piece achieves monumentality through its detailed rendering of musculature and expressive gestures.

As a leading figure in the Northern Renaissance, Dürer revolutionized the accessibility and quality of graphic arts. Executed near the middle of the crucial period spanning 1501 to 1550, this engraving demonstrates the full maturity of Dürer’s technique. The proliferation of these meticulously crafted prints made the art of the master widely influential across Europe, securing his reputation internationally and helping disseminate religious imagery to a broad audience. Today, historic copies of works like The Flagellation are highly valued, though many of Dürer’s print series are now widely accessible as public domain works, ensuring continuous study. This significant work remains a cornerstone of the National Gallery of Art collection, serving as a vital record of early sixteenth-century German printmaking traditions.