1509
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Flagellation is a 1509 ink by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic scene with five men. One naked man is tied to a tall post while another stands nearby holding a whip. A third man in fancy clothes looks on, while two others kneel or crouch in the foreground, one with a strange, shell-like hat. The background has a simple building with a flag and a shield. The artist used sharp lines and bold shapes to show the drama. The mix of clothing styles—some medieval, some more modern—makes the scene feel confusing. Next, look up woodcut to see how this print was made.
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
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