The Flagellation, from "The Passion"

The Flagellation, from "The Passion" is a pivotal work by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1512. This powerful engraving exemplifies the technical mastery Dürer brought to the print medium during the Northern Renaissance. As part of the larger series illustrating the suffering of Christ, the piece captures a key moment of punishment and humiliation central to the New Testament narrative.

The scene depicts Christ bound to a column, surrounded by cruel men administering the physical punishment of the flagellation. Dürer’s composition is highly dramatic, utilizing the intricate lines inherent in the engraving process to emphasize the strained musculature of the tormentors and the intense suffering of the central figure. The subject matter focuses directly on the themes of Men, Christ, and Punishment, handled with the psychological intensity typical of Dürer’s religious works. The artist’s control of light and shadow, achieved solely through varying densities of line work, distinguishes this print among the significant religious prints of the era.

The exceptional quality and efficient distribution facilitated by the printmaking medium ensured that this representation of Christ’s Passion reached a wide audience across Europe, solidifying Dürer’s international reputation. Today, this specific impression of The Flagellation is held within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural significance, the widespread availability of high-quality prints and digital reproductions through public domain initiatives continues to allow students and scholars access to Dürer’s profound interpretation of this sacred subject matter.