The Small Passion: Pilate Washing His Hands

1510

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Small Passion: Pilate Washing His Hands is a 1510 by Albrecht Dürer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Dürer
When & what style?: 1510 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This black-and-white scene shows a group of men in a dimly lit room. One man sits on a raised chair, washing his hands over a bowl while another stands nearby. To the right, a soldier kneels, holding a spear and a bundle of sticks. The room has a window with a curtain and a pillar with a crown on top. Notice how the artist used strong contrasts between light and shadow to make the figures stand out. This was a common trick in Renaissance art. Look up chiaroscuro to learn more about this technique.