Nude Seated on a Bench with a Pillow (Woman Bathing Her Feet at a Brook)

Nude Seated on a Bench with a Pillow (Woman Bathing Her Feet at a Brook) is a profound example of graphic art by Rembrandt van Rijn, dating to 1658. This specific impression utilizes etching, a technique Rijn perfected, executed on highly absorbent Japan paper, which lends a unique richness and warmth to the dense shadows and reinforces the atmospheric effects. The work depicts a solitary female figure, unidealized and robustly modeled, seated on a simple wooden bench, perhaps at the edge of a brook where she tends to her feet. The presence of the pillow contrasts slightly with the spare, intimate setting.

Created during the latter part of the Dutch Golden Age, specifically within the period 1651 to 1700, this print demonstrates Rijn's dedication to humane naturalism, distinguishing his approach from the classical idealism favored by many of his contemporaries. Rijn employed dense networks of cross-hatching to model the weight and texture of the flesh, utilizing darkness to focus the viewer’s attention sharply on the figure illuminated in soft light. This technique transforms a potentially mythological or allegorical subject into a quiet, private moment of contemplation, revealing the artist’s characteristic focus on ordinary human life.

As a prime example of seventeenth-century European prints, the quality of the line work confirms the technical brilliance of the Dutch master during this mature phase of his career. Rijn’s output in etching rivaled his fame as a painter, establishing him as one of history's most innovative printmakers. This powerful image is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a crucial reference point for the study of his graphic oeuvre. Since the work resides in a major museum collection and dates well into the past, high-quality images of this print are frequently made available through public domain initiatives.