Who painted The Flagellation?

The Flagellation was painted by German 15th Century in 1438.

Where can I see The Flagellation?

The Flagellation is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Flagellation?

The Flagellation is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Flagellation

German 15th Century , 1438

The Flagellation is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1438 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work is a hand‑colored woodcut print titled The Flagellation. Executed in a single sheet, the image combines a black‑line woodcut base with applied pigments in red lake, green, yellow, tan and orange, giving it a vivid, flat appearance. The composition centers on a figure in a yellow robe and red hat, flanked by two smaller figures, one bearing a green staff.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure appears to be undergoing a punitive act, suggested by the outstretched arms and red streaks that evoke blood or suffering. The surrounding figures, rendered smaller, may represent attendants or witnesses, contributing to a narrative of punishment or ritualized violence.

Technique & Style

The image was produced by carving a design into a wood block, inking the relief surfaces, and pressing the paper to create the outline. After printing, the artist applied color by hand, using flat washes of bright pigments that contrast with the monochrome woodcut lines, resulting in a raw, uneven finish characteristic of early hand‑colored prints.

History & Provenance

The print belongs to a period when woodcut was a primary method for reproducing images before the advent of modern printing. Its hand‑coloring indicates it was likely intended for a limited audience, perhaps as a devotional or illustrative sheet, though specific details of its origin or ownership are not recorded in the available data.

Context

Woodcut printing, especially with hand‑applied color, was common in the late medieval and early Renaissance eras for both religious and secular subjects. The stark, graphic representation of bodily punishment aligns with contemporary visual conventions used to convey moral or didactic messages.