The Betrayal of Christ c. 1460 - 1465

This woodcut, entitled "The Betrayal of Christ", shows the moment when Jesus is identified to the authorities by Judas's kiss. Looking at this image, made in Europe sometime in the late Middle Ages, we can consider how the story of the Passion was understood by those who were its intended audience. Woodcuts such as this were relatively cheap to produce, and so were widely disseminated among those who couldn’t afford more expensive art. The story, as told here, contains many of the prejudices of the time. Note the caricatured faces of the figures surrounding Jesus, their aggressive gestures, and their weapons. Consider how this imagery might have shaped attitudes towards those who were seen to be enemies of the Christian faith. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references and historical associations. By looking at the work through primary sources of the period, we can understand the social structures of the time.