A hand-coloured woodcut by Swiss Renaissance artist Urs Graf, depicting the biblical scene of Christ washing the feet of his disciples.

This hand-coloured woodcut by the Swiss artist Urs Graf depicts the biblical narrative of Christ washing the feet of his disciples. Graf, a figure active in the early sixteenth century, is known for his graphic work and his association with the Swiss mercenary culture of the period. The composition is divided into two distinct zones: the foreground shows Christ kneeling to perform the act of service, while the background features the remaining disciples seated at a table. The woodcut medium dictates the visual character of the piece. The lines are bold and direct, typical of the relief printing techniques employed in the early Renaissance. The application of colour, likely added by hand after the initial printing, provides a muted palette that defines the figures against the starker black-and-white structure of the woodblock. The artist's monogram, a common feature in his prints, is visible in the lower right corner, serving as a signature of his workshop production. Graf's approach to the subject is direct and unadorned. The figures are rendered with a focus on narrative clarity rather than anatomical precision. The spatial arrangement is compressed, pushing the action to the front of the picture plane. This print reflects the broader tradition of devotional imagery produced in the German-speaking regions during the Reformation era, where such works were often used for personal contemplation or as illustrations in religious texts. The work provides a view into the stylistic conventions of the period, where the graphic arts were used to disseminate theological narratives to a wider audience. The contrast between the humble act of washing feet and the structured, almost rigid, arrangement of the disciples creates a visual tension that defines the scene.