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 masterful print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1658. Executed using the complex combination of etching and engraving on laid paper, this work exemplifies the artist's dedication to printmaking during the latter half of the Dutch Golden Age, specifically the period spanning 1651 to 1700. Rijn utilized the malleability of the etching needle for initial sketches and contour lines, while incorporating the rigidity of the burin (engraving tool) to achieve deep shadows and precise tonal control, a technique that distinguishes his maturity as a printmaker.

The subject depicts a lone female figure seated informally on a crude bench, seemingly attending to her feet by a pool of water in a secluded spot. Unlike the mythological and highly idealized female forms often celebrated by Italian Renaissance artists, Rijn’s figure is rendered with striking realism and intimacy, emphasizing her psychological presence and vulnerability. This focus on the individual, coupled with the dramatic use of chiaroscuro to emphasize the textures of the skin, the rough bench, and the soft pillow, is characteristic of the contemplative realism central to contemporary Dutch culture.

This piece underscores Rijn’s innovative approach to the nude, treating the subject matter not as an idealization but as a moment of private contemplation. The sparse, selective detailing and the powerful use of negative space draw the viewer directly to the figure. As one of the most prolific creators of prints, Rijn ensured his images were widely circulated during his lifetime. This specific impression is preserved within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and enthusiasts direct access to the 17th-century artist's technical mastery. Because of its cultural significance and age, high-quality reproductions of this work are often available through public domain sources globally.