Staande figuur met een hoed en een kruik 17th century

This print, whose maker is presently unknown, was created using the intaglio process of engraving. A design is incised into a metal plate, ink is pressed into the grooves, and then the surface is wiped clean. Paper is then pressed forcefully against the plate, drawing the ink out of the etched lines. The crisp, linear quality of the print is characteristic of engraving, a technique that demands careful control and precision. Notice how the artist has used closely spaced lines to create areas of shading, giving the figure a sense of volume and depth. The cross-hatching is particularly evident in the figure’s dress and around the hat and water jug. Prints like this were relatively inexpensive to produce, and could be disseminated widely. As such, they are fascinating documents of social history. The image gives us insight into this person’s life, labor, and access to different materials. It encourages us to think about the economics of visual representation, and the status of those depicted.