Vrouw met sluier, een mand aan de arm 1630 - 1661

Israel Henriet created this etching of a woman with a basket, sometime in the mid-17th century. Look closely and you’ll notice that the composition is made up of many tiny parallel lines, all carefully incised into a copper plate. The material qualities of the metal, its hardness and receptivity to fine detail, allow the artist to build up tone and texture through the density and direction of these lines. See how Henriet uses this technique to describe the woman’s voluminous skirt, or the woven texture of the basket she carries? Consider too, the social context of this print. Unlike a painting, an etching can be reproduced many times over, making it a relatively democratic art form. Prints like this one would have circulated widely, offering glimpses into the lives of ordinary people. So next time you look at an etching, remember that the material and the making process are just as important as the image itself. These choices reflect the artist’s intentions, and the broader cultural values of the time.