Portret van een paar als Oud-Testamentische figuren, genaamd 'Het Joodse bruidje' 1866 - 1890

Willem Steelink created this print of a couple as Old Testament figures using etching, sometime in the late nineteenth century. Etching is an indirect intaglio process, in which a metal plate, usually copper, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist scratches an image into this ground with a needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. Steelink's skillful handling of the etching technique allowed him to capture the textures and light with remarkable nuance. You can see it in the soft fabrics and the expressive faces. Each line is a testament to his artistic vision and skill. Looking at this print, we realize that even the most traditional of images, when considered through the lens of its making, can reveal a world of social and cultural meaning.