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Urs Graf, the Elder

Pilate Washing His Hands, from Passio domini nostri Jesu Christi

c. 1503
Hand-colored woodcut on ivory laid paper with letterpress on verso, laid down on white laid paper
21.7 × 15.6 cm (8.5 × 6.1 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The Roman official Pontius Pilate is seen here washing his hands before a crowd, having failed to convince Christ to defend himself. With this action, Pilate claimed to rid himself of the blood of an innocent man, and thus hoped to absolve himself from all responsibility for the death of Jesus Christ.

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