The Flagellation

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Flagellation*, a poignant 15th-century German woodcut, hand-colored for vivid effect. This anonymous print captures the biblical scene of Christ being scourged by tormentors, a pivotal moment the Passion narrative symbolizing human suffering and divine sacrifice. Rendered on a modest sheet measuring just 4¼ x 3⅝ inches, its intimate scale invites close contemplation, evoking the personal devotion of late medieval worshippers. Woodcuts like this one revolutionized art accessibility in Northern Europe during the Gothic era. Carved in relief on wooden blocks and printed on paper, they allowed for inexpensive reproduction of sacred imagery, spreading religious stories beyond elite cathedral walls. The hand-applied colors—likely gouache or watercolor—enhance the emotional intensity, with stark contrasts highlighting Christ's vulnerability amid his aggressors. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the 1930 bequest of James Clark McGuire, this print exemplifies early printmaking's cultural role. It bridged art and piety, offering laypeople a tangible aid for prayer and reflection in an age of growing literacy and devotion.