The Mysteries of the Passion: The Flagellation

1631

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Mysteries of the Passion: The Flagellation is a 1631 by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1631 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This etching shows a chaotic scene of people in old-fashioned clothes. Some are holding sticks or whips, while others look on or cower. A building with arched windows stands in the background, and the whole scene is framed in a circle. The lines are sharp, and the figures are drawn in a way that makes them look tense and dramatic. Notice how the artist used only black and white to create strong contrasts between light and dark. This helps focus attention on the action and emotions in the scene. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and shadow like this.