A woman at the bath, another woman washing her right foot and an old woman behind her holding her clothes
Original title: A woman at the bath, another woman washing her right foot and an old woman behind her holding her clothes
kurzbeschreibung
Louis Surugue produced this engraving in 1716, a bathing scene with three women set within an oval frame. It reproduces a painting by Peter Paul Rubens. The print combines everyday bodily care with an allegorical nod to Venus and love.
Description
In the foreground, a woman sits in the bathing pool, holding a cloth before her. A second woman kneels at her feet and washes the sole of her right foot. Behind them stands an older woman carrying the discarded clothes. A landscape with trees and a pond closes off the background. Along the bottom edge runs a French text that addresses Venus and love.
Context
Surugue engraved the plate in 1716 after a painting by Rubens; the signature at the bottom names this source. Rubens had painted the original in the early 17th century, and the influence of the Renaissance on his treatment of the nude is evident. Surugue, a French engraver, was known for reproductions of famous paintings. At roughly 12.5 × 8 cm, the format is small, suggesting use as a book illustration or a collector's item.
Impact
Precise lines and graduated shading give the image a calm, intimate mood. The oval frame focuses attention on the figures and creates a balanced arrangement. Because the everyday scene and the mythological reference interlock, the subject feels both true to life and idealized.
Technique
Surugue worked in engraving: lines were incised into a copper plate. With carefully placed hatching he modeled light and shadow. The sheet has been trimmed, so the original plate size can no longer be determined.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)