Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1728

This is Frans van Stampart’s portrait of an unknown woman, made using etching and engraving techniques. Looking closely, you can see how the incised lines create tone and texture. The whole image is built up through careful, repetitive labor, a veritable topography of marks. Printmaking like this was at the heart of early capitalism. These weren't unique artworks, but reproducible images that could be widely distributed, extending the reach of the artist and satisfying a growing demand for art among the middle class. The act of engraving, with its demand for precision and patience, speaks to the values of the time: industry, skill, and the transformation of raw materials into objects of cultural and economic value. By focusing on the making, we can appreciate this print not just as a portrait, but as a product of its time, reflecting the social and economic forces that shaped its creation.