The Scourging of Christ (verso), and The Israelites Enslaved in Egypt (recto), from Schatzbehalter (Treasury)
1491, portfolio assembled 1929
Michel Wolgemut (German, 1434/37–1519) printed and published by Anton Koberger (German, c. 1440/45–1513) original text by Stephan Fridolin (German, c. 1430–1498) portfolio text by Wilhelm Ludwig Schreiber (German, 1855–1932)
Germany
Michael Wolgemut (teacher of Albrecht Dürer, whose work can be seen nearby) produced this woodcut as part of a book about the life of Jesus. In the 15th century, illustrations in printed books were enlivened by the addition of hand-coloring in watercolor. The colorist of Wolgemut’s gruesome depiction of the flagellation emphasized Jesus’s suffering by adding streams of blood running down his body, a detail absent in the woodblock.
Woodcut in black with hand-colored additions and letterpress in black with rubrication (recto and verso) on ivory laid paper