Passion of Chociwel (Crucifixion Group from Chociwel) 

The Crucified Christ figure is the central part of the Crucifixion Group, called the Chociwel Passion, because of its origin. The Crucifixion Groups refer to the culminating moment of Christ's Passion and are one of the most popular representations in medieval art. Initially, they consisted of the figures of John and Mary placed on the sides of the crucifix. Expanded to include other figures mentioned in the gospels, they are typical of especially late medieval religiosity. Multi-figural groups of figures of natural or supernatural size brought the events from the Hill of Golgotha closer. They allowed the Passion to be experienced in an almost natural way. They intensified the experience of co-suffering during personal reflection and the paschal mystery celebrated in the Eucharistic liturgy.The Chociwel Passion was composed of a group of five figures. It has survived to this day in the form of the figure of the Crucified Jesus and the Evil thief. It is a leading work of a West Pomeranian workshop of south German origin, called the workshop of the Chociwel Passion Master. Numerous preserved works of this workshop represent one of the main trends in the art of the late Middle Ages in West Pomerania. The naturalism of the figures, precision and correctness of rendering anatomical details are the influence of already developing modern art. Building emotions and dynamics of representations through gestures and facial expressions are other characteristic features of these monuments.

Kinga Krasnodębska