Jonge vrouw met een schedel 1658 - 1677

This mezzotint was made by Wallerant Vaillant in the 17th century, using a copper plate. Mezzotint is a printmaking process that relies on building up tone, rather than incising lines. The plate is roughened with a tool called a rocker to create thousands of tiny burrs that hold ink. The artist then smooths areas to varying degrees, creating lighter tones. This print shows off the unique velvety texture that mezzotint can achieve, especially in the deep blacks of the background. Vaillant was one of the great masters of this technique, and this print demonstrates why. The tonal range is remarkable, from the shimmering highlights on the woman’s dress to the somber shadows that envelop the skull. The inscription "Memento Mori," a reminder of mortality, is characteristic of the era. But it is the labor-intensive mezzotint process itself that gives the image its haunting, ethereal quality. Considering the material and process illuminates the cultural and symbolic meaning of the artwork.