Woman Bathing Her Feet at a Brook (1658, Met-Objekt 5374)
Original title: Woman Bathing Her Feet at a Brook
kurzbeschreibung
The biblical story of Bathsheba washing in the water is echoed when Rembrandt van Rijn in 1658 shows a nude woman on a rock by a stream. In his etching with drypoint and strong plate tone, preserved in two states, this is the first. The woman sits and washes her feet in the flowing water.
Description
The woman has settled on a stone surface, relaxed and unhurried; she dips her feet into the water. Her hair is coiled into a knot, she wears no clothing – in this lies the intimacy of the moment. A dark ground, shot through with textures, catches the eye and makes the figure stand out. The arrangement remains simple and focuses entirely on the woman. Delicate lines and careful hatching shape the skin and trace its surface.
Context
This etching was made in Rembrandt's late period, when he repeatedly explored the human body and quiet scenes of everyday life. Bathing women were a common motif in the seventeenth-century Netherlands, often with biblical or mythological references – here a clear literary identification is left open. Amsterdam offered the artist varied inspiration. The first state of the print is rare and carries the pronounced plate tone that Rembrandt deliberately employed.
Impact
A calm, intimate mood emanates from the sheet, speaking directly to the viewer. The dark surroundings and finely set lines concentrate attention and give the view something of quiet devotion. Because almost all accessories are absent, the gaze is directed entirely at the natural grace of the pose.
Technique
Rembrandt worked with etching and drypoint; he achieved the strong plate tone by deliberately leaving ink on the plate. The thin lines and hatchings are characteristic of his printed work and allow a precise gradation of light and shadow. The sheet measures 16.3 × 7.8 cm – an intimate format that supports a close look at the figure.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)