Zittend vrouwelijk naakt, een voet afdrogend 1675 - 1722

Pieter van der Werff created this red chalk drawing of a seated female nude drying her foot. This everyday act gains symbolic weight when we consider the long tradition of foot-washing in both sacred and secular contexts. Think of the famous scene of Christ washing the feet of his disciples, a profound gesture of humility and service. Yet, this motif also emerges in intimate, domestic scenes across time. We see it echoed in Renaissance paintings of bathers and classical depictions of Venus. Each iteration carries a subtle shift in meaning, oscillating between spiritual purification and earthly sensuality. What is it about the simple act of tending to one's feet that resonates so deeply? Perhaps it speaks to a primal vulnerability, a moment of self-care that is both deeply personal and universally understood. The image evokes a sense of quiet intimacy, drawing us into the sitter's private world. This is the enduring power of the image—the way it taps into our shared memories, blurring the lines between the sacred and the profane.