Voetwassing van een man 1656 - 1726

Johannes Glauber made this print of a man's foot washing with etching. It represents a scene where status and social hierarchy are being challenged. In the early modern Netherlands, cleanliness was not just about hygiene; it was deeply intertwined with social standing and religious purity. Glauber, a Dutch Golden Age painter, spent time in France and Italy and specialized in decorative landscapes. His work reflects a time when Dutch society was grappling with ideas of domesticity and religious devotion. Here, the act of foot washing, traditionally performed by servants, is elevated to a scene of symbolic significance, possibly questioning established social norms. To fully understand this image, one might delve into the religious and social customs of the 17th century. Contemporary texts, sermons, and household manuals offer a window into how such scenes were viewed and interpreted, enriching our understanding of art as a reflection of cultural values.