1513
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Pilate Washing His Hands is a 1513 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a group of men in armor and robes gathered outside a building with a steep roof. One man in the center, dressed differently, holds a basin while another pours water over his hands. Behind them, soldiers stand with spears, and a small figure kneels near the steps. The scene looks like a moment from a story—likely a biblical one—where someone washes their hands to show they’re not responsible. The artist used a woodcut method, which means the image was carved into wood and printed. Next, check out woodcut to see how this printing technique worked.
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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