Vrouw aan een tafel met bloemen c. 1888 - 1890

Willem de Zwart created this etching, "Vrouw aan een tafel met bloemen," using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. The process involves covering the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratching an image into the coating with a pointed tool. Acid is applied, biting into the exposed metal to create lines. Ink fills these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The textures and tones come from the depth of the etched lines and the amount of ink left on the plate. The fine cross-hatching, visible throughout, is particularly effective in creating a sense of depth and shadow. The etching process, though mechanical, still requires a deft hand and eye. De Zwart has carefully worked the plate to capture the scene's mood, a blend of quiet contemplation and domesticity. The controlled, repetitive labor of etching becomes a way to represent the unseen labor of the woman depicted. This invites us to consider how artistic labor reflects wider social realities, challenging any rigid hierarchy between art and craft.