Christ expulsing the Moneylenders from the Temple 1506 - 1509

Albrecht Dürer created this woodcut, "Christ expelling the Moneylenders from the Temple," to be included in a series on the Passion of Christ. Produced in Germany in the early 16th century, this image participates in a broader critique of religious institutions taking shape at the time, one which would soon explode into the Protestant Reformation. Dürer’s composition stresses the dramatic action as Christ raises a whip, driving out the merchants who have corrupted the sacred space of the temple. The figures are rendered with meticulous detail, their expressions conveying a range of emotions from fear to anger. Dürer's choice of a woodcut, a more accessible and affordable medium than painting, suggests a desire to disseminate his message widely, beyond the confines of the Church. By studying the art and social history of the period, we can better appreciate how Dürer used his art to reflect and engage with the profound religious and social changes of his time.