The Flagellation c. 1480
israhelvanmeckenem
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, engraving
pencil drawn
light pencil work
germany
mechanical pen drawing
pen sketch
pencil sketch
charcoal drawing
pencil drawing
pen-ink sketch
pencil work
engraving
pencil art
"The Flagellation" is a 15th-century engraving by the prolific German artist Israhel van Meckenem. The print depicts the biblical scene of Christ's scourging, a moment of intense physical and emotional suffering. Christ is bound to a column and whipped by Roman soldiers, who are shown with exaggerated expressions of cruelty. The scene is set in a grand architectural space, with intricate details of the floor and walls. Meckenem's engraving demonstrates a mastery of line and detail, highlighting the drama and pathos of the event. The Flagellation was a popular subject for art during the Renaissance, as it was a powerful symbol of Christ's suffering and sacrifice.
Comments
Israhel van Meckenem was the most prolific 15th century engraver in Germany, as well as a notorious copyist. During his early career, he was drawn to the expressive qualities of contemporary Westphaliain paintings. In the distorted poses, twisted limbs and grotesque faces of Christ and his torturers shown in this engraving, van Meckenem carried the northern Gothic non-anatomical approach to an extreme. However, the receding depth and spatial relationships of the structure are rational and convincing, indicating that he understood one-point perspective, already utilized by Italian painters for several decades.
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