Christus en de Samaritaanse vrouw Possibly 1648

Dirck de Bray's drawing, made around 1660, illustrates a biblical encounter between Christ and the Samaritan woman, rendered in delicate brown ink. The composition centers on two figures against a backdrop of rough, natural terrain, evoking both intimacy and isolation. Notice the stark contrast between the detailed foreground and the sketchier background. De Bray uses line and space to direct our gaze towards the interaction between the figures. Christ is seated, while the woman kneels, emphasizing a visual hierarchy that invites us to consider questions of power, gender, and social status. The formal arrangement highlights the woman's supplication and Christ's calm, almost detached demeanor. This drawing destabilizes conventional religious imagery through its raw and unidealized portrayal of biblical figures, challenging us to confront the human dimensions of faith and spirituality. It is in this space of formal tension and thematic questioning that the work finds its enduring resonance.