1515
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Fall and Redemption of Man: Pilate Washing his Hands is a 1515 by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white woodcut shows a group of people in a dramatic scene. On the right, a robed figure washes his hands while others watch. To the left, soldiers in armor stand with spears, their faces tense. In the background, a tent or pavilion looms under a dark sky, with a cross visible in the distance. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to create a sense of tension. The scene feels crowded, with every figure locked in the moment. Next, look up Albrecht Altdorfer to see how he used woodcuts to tell stories.
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
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