De geseling van Christus

About this artwork

houtsnede

Art Historical Context

Behold *De geseling van Christus* (The Flagellation of Christ a poignant woodcut created in 1503 by the Master of the Virgo inter Virgines, an anonymous Netherlandish print active in the Northern Renaissance. This intimate work, measuring just 110 mm high by 147 mm wide on paper, captures the biblical moment of Christ's scourging, a key scene from the Passion emphasizing suffering and redemption. Woodcuts like this one were revolutionary for their time, allowing affordable reproduction of religious imagery for personal devotion. The master, named after a celebrated altarpiece depicting the Virgin among virgins, excelled in intricate line work carved into wood blocks, then inked and pressed onto paper. This technique produced fine details in expressions and drapery, making sacred narratives accessible to laypeople beyond elite patrons. In early 16th-century Flanders, such prints fueled spiritual life amid the late Gothic and emerging Renaissance styles, blending meticulous realism with emotional intensity. This rare survival offers a window into how everyday believers meditated on Christ's sacrifice, highlighting printmaking's role in spreading faith during a transformative era.

About the Artist

Master of the Virgo inter Virgines · 1430–1530

Comment on works: religious