Woman Bathing Her Feet at a Brook

Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)

1658 · Etching and drypoint, heavy plate tone; first of two states · Drawings and Prints

In 1658 Rembrandt created several enigmatic, tonal etchings of women, presumably sketched directly from nude models. Each hints at a setting or subject, although the artist no doubt meant them to be open to interpretation. In this case, the fact that he did not show the woman’s feet suggests that he intended them to dangle in water; a few clumps of leaves are distinguishable in the dark background. Curiously, however, he also depicted a large cushion and what seems to be the backrest of a chair.

Artist

Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)

Date

1658

Medium

Etching and drypoint, heavy plate tone; first of two states

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Henry Walters, 1917