Vrouwgezicht en profil in ornamentele omlijsting 1683 - 1733

This ornamental framing with a woman's profile was made by Bernard Picart, likely in the early 18th century, using etching and engraving techniques. The image is made entirely of lines, and the material – ink on paper – enables both minute detail and broad tonal contrast. Look at the elaborate swirls of foliage, the carefully delineated feathers of the eagles, and the delicate shading on the woman's face. These effects were achieved through careful work with etching tools. This print would have been made in multiples, as part of an elaborate system of book production. Printmaking was a sophisticated industry. It provided images for all sorts of publications, from scientific treatises to popular novels. This particular print may have been a *cul-de-lampe*, or tail-piece, used to fill the blank space at the end of a chapter. Considering its original context reminds us that even seemingly minor works of art are the products of skill, labour, and a specific moment in economic history.