The Mocking of Christ, from The Small Passion 1508 - 1509

Albrecht Durer created this woodcut, “The Mocking of Christ”, as part of his Small Passion series. At a time of immense religious and social upheaval in Europe, Durer captured not just a biblical scene but also the raw emotions of human cruelty. Look at the figures surrounding Christ; their faces contorted with malice, as they physically and verbally abuse him. In the 16th century, such imagery spoke to broader anxieties about religious authority, social justice, and the persecution of those deemed different. Durer was deeply interested in humanism and the emotional states of his subjects, which goes beyond mere religious instruction. He delves into the psychological landscape of both the persecuted and the persecutors. The composition, with its claustrophobic setting and dynamic figures, intensifies the emotional impact. Durer uses the graphic medium of the woodcut to create a space for reflection on power, morality, and human fallibility. Durer’s work then, invites us to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and the societal structures that enable such acts of degradation.