Passion of Christ 1509

Albrecht Altdorfer painted *Passion of Christ*, likely in the early 16th century. Its composition immediately draws the eye to the receding arches of the palace, creating a stage-like setting. The use of light and shadow emphasizes the drama unfolding as Christ is presented before Pontius Pilate. The painting's architectural structure and the arrangement of figures are not merely representational. The formal rigidity of the palace contrasts sharply with the emotional turmoil of the figures, a semiotic interplay reflecting the conflict between divine justice and earthly power. Altdorfer destabilizes traditional religious art by embedding the sacred narrative within a detailed, secular space, blurring the lines between the spiritual and the mundane. Consider the perspective and its effect on the viewer. The lines converge not on Christ but on the architectural space, suggesting a shift in focus from the divine to the structural underpinnings of power and authority. This focus challenges our understanding of religious painting, inviting us to question the very foundations of faith and justice.