Washing of feet 1311

Duccio's “Washing of Feet” is an early 14th-century panel, likely painted with egg tempera on wood. Born in Siena around 1255, Duccio was working during a time of emerging humanism, though art remained heavily influenced by religious doctrine. Here, Duccio visualizes a moment of profound humility and service. In the Christian tradition, foot washing was typically the task of servants, not masters. By performing this act for his disciples, Christ challenges the prevailing social hierarchy and models a radical form of love and equality. Observe Peter's reluctance as Christ washes his feet. Peter, seemingly caught between reverence and discomfort, embodies the tension between social norms and Christ’s revolutionary ethic. Yet there’s an intimacy in the way Christ attends to each foot. “Washing of Feet” speaks to the revolutionary potential inherent in acts of care and the challenging of established power dynamics. The painting compels us to consider our own roles in perpetuating or dismantling systems of inequality.