The Small Passion: Pilate Washing His Hands

The Small Passion: Pilate Washing His Hands by Albrecht Dürer is a powerful example of the German Renaissance master's late printmaking work, executed as a woodcut between 1509 and 1511. This piece is one of thirty-six images comprising the renowned series, The Small Passion. Unlike his earlier, monumental print series, Dürer designed this set for a more intimate, devotional experience due to its smaller scale. The extraordinary detail achieved in the woodcut medium demonstrates the artist's technical prowess and unprecedented control over the block and the printing process, distinguishing this output sharply from contemporary prints.

The scene depicts Pontius Pilate, positioned prominently on the right, symbolically cleansing himself of responsibility for Christ’s condemnation—a narrative moment drawn directly from the Gospel of Matthew. Dürer focuses the composition on the emotional drama of the judgment hall, utilizing the stark, graphic contrasts inherent to the woodcut technique to define the figures and the architectural setting. Produced in Germany during a period of burgeoning theological and artistic innovation, the success and wide distribution of the series solidified Dürer's international reputation.

This meticulously crafted work showcases the skill that established Dürer as the premier printmaker of his era. The prevalence of these devotional prints ensured religious imagery was highly accessible to a broader audience across Europe. Today, the enduring quality and historical importance of prints from The Small Passion are recognized globally. This specific impression is held within the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a foundational moment in the history of German art. Due to the work's age and historical significance, high-resolution scans are often available, underscoring its continuing role as a key piece of public domain artwork.