Vrouw met spinrokken en een haspel in de handen 1630 - 1661

Israel Henriet made this etching of a woman with a spinning wheel sometime in the 17th century. Although it is a print, a medium often associated with mass production, consider the care and skill required to create it. Henriett would have started with a copper plate, meticulously drawing the image with fine tools. The network of lines you see define the woman’s form, her clothing, and the tools of her trade, and they were all incised by hand. The spinning wheel and distaff she holds are not just props; they are integral to her identity and her labor. Notice the bobbin hanging from her left hand, the very tool she needs to spin fibers into thread. This print, therefore, is a testament to the artistry involved in both printmaking and textile production, reminding us that all objects, whether functional or decorative, are the result of skilled human labor. By focusing on this connection, we come to appreciate the value and meaning embedded in everyday objects.