Jonge lachende vrouw 1884 - 1947

This print, "Jonge lachende vrouw" or "Young Laughing Woman," was made by Edgar Chahine using etching. It’s all about line work, hatching and cross-hatching, and those super fine lines that create value. Up close, the drypoint creates a burr effect which almost mimics a soft, smudgy charcoal. Chahine varies the line weight, using thin, delicate lines in her face and thicker, bolder lines to define her hair. The way he models her form is pretty direct, almost like he's sculpting with lines. There's a real sense of process, of building up the image layer by layer. The face almost reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz who also used etching in a similar way to imbue her subjects with humanity. Ultimately, it’s not just about capturing an image, but about revealing the layers of emotion and experience that make us human.