The response of proteins to fast shock compression is poorly understood at the molecular level. Proteins are complex molecular systems and traditional physical chemistry models do not successfully explain protein dynamics and protein structural dynamics. Energy landscape models are frequently used to understand structural relaxation of viscous liquids, supercooled liquids, and polymers. A rugged potential energy topography, or energy landscape with many potential minima is helpful in understanding many unique properties of such systems. We have developed an energy landscape model to understand shock compression of proteins. Shock compression changes the shape of the energy landscape and causes dynamic motions along the energy landscape. The energy landscape model provides a molecular‐level interpretation of viscoelastic shock compression. The first observation of viscoelastic shock compression in proteins was made using the laser‐driven nanoshock technique. © 2004 American Institute of Physics