The Flagellation, from "The Large Passion"

The Flagellation, from "The Large Passion," is a highly detailed woodcut created by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in 1511. This print belongs to the influential series known collectively as The Large Passion, which combined earlier graphic works with newly executed prints to form a complete, monumental narrative cycle detailing the suffering of Christ. Produced at the height of Dürer’s career, the series is considered a definitive achievement in Northern European printmaking and established his authority as the era’s foremost graphic artist.

Dürer masterfully depicts the dramatic moment when Christ is subjected to torture immediately prior to his crucifixion. The composition emphasizes emotional intensity and physical strain. The central figure of Christ is tightly bound to a sturdy pillar, flanked by two powerfully rendered Men who function as tormentors, actively engaged in striking him with whips. The scene is architecturally grounded by massive classical Columns that structure the setting and heighten the sense of enclosure. Through the skillful use of cross-hatching and varying line weights, Dürer conveys textural differences, from the taut muscles of the executioners to the fabric of their clothing.

Characteristic of the artist's attention to detail, a small Dog often sits near the feet of one of the figures, a detail used frequently in German Renaissance art to root the sacred drama in the immediate reality of the viewer. The 1511 edition of The Large Passion became immensely popular across Europe, showcasing Dürer’s ability to use the woodcut medium to achieve the complexity and dynamism usually reserved for painting. This important print remains a key example of the German master’s influential style and is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, high-quality images of this seminal work from the early 16th century often reside in the public domain, allowing for widespread study and appreciation.