Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples, from "The Small Passion"

Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples, from "The Small Passion," is a masterfully executed woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer between 1508 and 1509. This print belongs to Dürer’s comprehensive devotional series, known as The Small Passion, a pivotal work in the German Renaissance that narrated the life and suffering of Christ through 36 highly detailed images. Executed during the height of the Northern printmaking boom, the work reflects the period's intense focus on dramatic theological narrative and detailed naturalism.

The composition depicts the solemn moment of mandatum, where Christ humbly kneels to perform the act of washing the feet of the Apostles, emphasizing his role as a servant leader. Dürer’s unparalleled technique in the woodcut medium is evident throughout the piece; despite the graphic constraints, he achieves remarkable depth and complexity. Fine lines and intricate cross-hatching articulate the textures of the robes and the varied, often astonished expressions of the disciples. The scene is formally structured yet intimate, drawing the viewer's eye to the central interaction between the savior and Saint Peter, the chief Apostle, who recoils slightly in surprise at the profoundly humble act of washing.

This powerful work illustrates one of the fundamental lessons of Christian humility prescribed in the Gospels. The availability of such high-quality prints allowed Dürer’s prolific output to circulate widely, making profound religious narratives accessible to a broad European audience. This particular impression of Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a key example of the artistic and technical innovation of early 16th-century German printmaking.