Malinconia (Melancholy, or Head of a Woman) before 1913

Luigi Conconi made this melancholy woman using an etching technique sometime in the late 19th Century. You can tell that Conconi wasn't trying to hide the process; the cross-hatching is evident in the way the image is formed, almost like he's drawing with light and shadow. What’s interesting here is the surface. It’s not just an image; it's a physical thing. The etching has a kind of velvety texture, doesn't it? It’s all in these fine, delicate lines. Look at the way he’s built up the shadows around her eyes and mouth. It’s almost like he’s caressing the plate with his tool, trying to find the emotion there. It reminds me a little of Whistler, who also used etching to convey subtle moods and atmospheric effects. Ultimately, this print is so affecting precisely because it resists being pinned down. It's a conversation, not a statement.