Artwork
The Flagellation of Christ

The Flagellation of Christ is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1550, the work titled The Flagellation of Christ is attributed to the artist recorded as 30134_person. The piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as a black‑and‑white image depicting a dramatic scene of punishment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents three male figures arranged horizontally. The central figure, head bowed and scantily clad, appears to be the one receiving the scourge, while the figure on the left grips a whip and the figure on the right, helmeted and turned away, seems to act as an accomplice. The arrangement suggests a narrative of suffering and authority.
Technique & Style
The image employs stark chiaroscuro, with intense contrasts between light and shadow that isolate each figure. The dramatic illumination emphasizes the physical tension of the scene, while the limited tonal range of the black‑and‑white medium heightens the sense of immediacy and emotional intensity.
History & Provenance
The painting dates to the mid‑16th century, a period when religious subjects were commonly rendered for devotional purposes. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the institution’s broader collection of historical visual artifacts.
Artist & collection















