Ablutions Collection

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib sikh temple

A lady at her toilette, after a 17th century engraving by Le Blond. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter
955318 A lady at her toilette, after a 17th century engraving by Le Blond. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs, published 1909.; Private Collection.

Young ladies at their toilette, after a 16th century Italian engraving. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom
955306 Young ladies at their toilette, after a 16th century Italian engraving. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs

Woman at her toilet, after Henri Lerolle. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by
1000866 Woman at her toilet, after Henri Lerolle. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs, published 1909.; Private Collection.

Das Frauenbad, or the Women's Bath, after the 16th century Italian engraving by Nicolas Nelli
955333 Das Frauenbad, or the Women's Bath, after the 16th century Italian engraving by Nicolas Nelli. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs

Woman Washing Her Hands before Entering a Shrine, c. 1767. Creator: Suzuki Harunobu
Woman Washing Her Hands before Entering a Shrine, c. 1767. Attributed to Suzuki Harunobu

A courtesan seated on a verandah brushing her teeth and pensively looking at flowering
CH376760 A courtesan seated on a verandah brushing her teeth and pensively looking at flowering morning glory (colour woodcut) by Harunobu

A Muslim man performing his ablutions before prayer, washing his hands in a bowl of water. A servant pours water and another offers a towel. Musulmano che fa abluzione

Four great imams: Abu Hanifa 1, Al-Shafi ??i 2, Malik ibn Anas 3 and ibn Hanbal 4. I quattro Iman. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Giarre after Giulio Ferrario in his Costumes Ancient

Crouching Venus, copy of a 3rd century BC Greek original (marble) (b / w photo
XIR202753 Crouching Venus, copy of a 3rd century BC Greek original (marble) (b/w photo) (see also 191002, 191003) by Roman; Louvre, Paris

Wilton Williams Idea of Comfort, taking a bath
A lady looks the picture of relaxation following a steaming hot bath. One of a series of illustrations done for Comfort Soap in the 1920s by leading illustrators of the day. Date: c.1925

Plate 413. Pouring Water in Basin and Washing Face, 1872-1885 (collotype on paper)
3950242 Plate 413. Pouring Water in Basin and Washing Face, 1872-1885 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 21.9x34 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover

Burmese Sketches (engraving)
1624854 Burmese Sketches (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Burmese Sketches. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 4 December 1886)

Advertisement for Ivory Soap, c. 1890 (colour litho)
PNP382189 Advertisement for Ivory Soap, c.1890 (colour litho) by Anschutz, Thomas Pollock (1851-1912) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Belle Epoque Paris, Fashionable lady taking her bath (colour litho)
5198080 Belle Epoque Paris, Fashionable lady taking her bath (colour litho) by Guillaume, Albert (1873-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fashionable lady taking her bath)

In the Bath, c. 1883 (pastel and charcoal on paper)
CBR76456 In the Bath, c.1883 (pastel and charcoal on paper) by Degas, Edgar (1834-1917); 26.6x31.7 cm; Private Collection; Photo eConnaught Brown, London; French, out of copyright

A Cure Bath in Moscow, 1790 (w / c on paper)
XIR125317 A Cure Bath in Moscow, 1790 (w/c on paper) by Barthe, Gerard de la (fl.1787-1810); 45.7x66.7 cm; Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia; French, out of copyright

Plate 496. Miscellaneous Phases of the Toilet, 1885 (collotype on paper)
3950432 Plate 496. Miscellaneous Phases of the Toilet, 1885 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 21.3x33.7 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Plate 414. Wiping Body with Towel, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950243 Plate 414. Wiping Body with Towel, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 18.6x38.1 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Plate 412. Washing, Wiping Face, and Turning, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950241 Plate 412. Washing, Wiping Face, and Turning, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 23.7x31.1 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Curative uses of water (colour litho)
3097097 Curative uses of water (colour litho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Curative uses of water)

Public Baths, in Kashan, from Voyage Pittoresque of Persia
STC132669 Public Baths, in Kashan, from Voyage Pittoresque of Persia, engraved by Claude Sauvageot (1832-85) published by Lemercier, Paris, 1856 (engraving) by Coste

Jerusalem, Fountain of ablutions (b / w photo)
5214367 Jerusalem, Fountain of ablutions (b/w photo) by European Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jerusalem, Fountain of ablutions)

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Myanmar, Mandalay, Young woman washing herself outside her house, Yay Kyi village

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Myanmar, Shan State, Women washing themselves in Inle Lake, near Indein Village

Pavement washroom, Old Delhi
A boy washes his clothes and an old man washes his hair - all on the pavement in an Old Delhi street Date: 1986

Soldiers bathing in a brewery during World War I
Soldiers bathing in a brewery in fermenting vats converted to hot baths during World War I within reach of shell fire Date: 1915

A Lady At Her Toilette, After A 17th Century Engraving By Le Blond. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte Vom Mittelalter Bis Zur Gegenwart By Eduard Fuchs, Published 1909

Hagia Sophia. Fountaint of ablutions. Istanbul
Hagia Sophia. Fountain of ablutions. 18th century. Istanbul. Turkey

LAVER
Ceremonial objects : THE BRONZE LAVER which stood in the Court of the Tabernacle at Jerusalem, for the priests ablutions

Gypsies on Epsom Downs for the Epsom Races. A gypsy man washing his feet around the camp fire. Late 1940s, early 1950s

Three boys washing on a New Year card -- The Tub, The Scrub, The Rub. Date: circa 1890s

Turkey. Istanbul. Fountain of Sultan Amhed III, 1728. Detail

Clean Living Romans
Romans attending to their ablutions

South Africa - Zulu Woman & Child
Zulu Woman & Child, Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Captioned Morning Ablutions Date: 1927

Homeless Men in a Royal Park, London, 1903
Illustration showing a group of homeless men sleeping on the grass in one of Londons Royal Parks, 1903. The original caption for this image ran: The Submerged Tenth - Lounging in Londons Royal Parks

La Toilette de Venus, 1749 (oil on canvas)
XIR898129 La Toilette de Venus, 1749 (oil on canvas) by Boucher, Francois (1703-70); 10.7x17.3 cm; Louvre, Paris, France; (add.info.: La Toilette de Venus Signed and dated bottom right: F)

Indian Landscape with Temple Figures Washing Clothes by an Indian Temple, India, George Chinnery, 1774-1852, British

Japanese dockside scene - with young bathers
Japanese dockside scene - with moored boats and three young male bathers performing their ablutions. Date: circa 1910s

Ablution basin at the entrance of a shinto shrine

Temple and devotees on the Bagmati river bank in Pashupatinath holy city

Ablution pots

Filipino pilgrim drinking Santa Lucia holy water at the foot of Mount Banahaw

Muslim medersa students washing before prayer

Water. Thean Hou Chinese temple. Kuala Lumpur

Christs convent ablution cloister

Ablutions in Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, New Delhi

Hindu pilgrims bathing at dawn at Ganga Sagar Mela yearly pilgrimage at the mouth of the Ganges

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"Ablutions: Cleansing Rituals Across Time and Cultures" From the serene Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple to the unexpected sight of soldiers bathing in a brewery during World War I, they have played a significant role in various settings. In Turkey's vibrant Constantinople, now Istanbul, Top-Khane Square witnessed countless individuals partaking in these cleansing rituals. The grand Hagia Sophia stood tall with its iconic Fountain of Ablutions, inviting worshippers to purify themselves before entering its sacred halls. Meanwhile, the laver at a Turkish Bath depicted in Aubry de la Mottrayes' 1723 illustration showcased the communal nature of this ancient practice. Even amidst adversity, such as Allied prisoners of war at their ablutions in a German prison camp or a woman washing her hands before entering a shrine captured by Suzuki Harunobu's artistry in 1767, these acts remained steadfast. A glimpse into daily life revealed intriguing moments like a courtesan pensively looking at flowering while brushing her teeth on a verandah. These seemingly mundane tasks held deeper significance within cultural contexts. Religion often intertwines with ablution practices; thus, we witness Muslim men performing their ablutions before prayer or learn about the Four Great Imams who shaped Islamic jurisprudence and emphasized cleanliness as an essential aspect of faith. Intriguingly contrasting this historical tapestry is Crouching Venus—a copy of an ancient Greek sculpture—reminding us that even classical beauty sought purity through ritualistic cleansing. Through black-and-white photographs and vivid descriptions spanning time and space, one thing becomes clear: whether it be for spiritual devotion or personal hygiene purposes—ablutions connect humanity across cultures and generations.