Vrouw uit India 1562

This is François Desprez’s ‘Vrouw uit India’, a small print from around the 16th century. The composition, framed by an ornamental border, presents a figure identified as an Indian woman. The artist’s approach to form and line is striking. Notice the emphasis on contour, the dense cross-hatching which defines the figure's clothing and features. The lines create a sense of depth but also flatten the image. The figure seems to emerge from the page, yet remains graphically distinct. Desprez seems less interested in representing the woman’s actual appearance and more concerned with conveying an idea. The careful attention to costume and adornment suggests a semiotic engagement with signs and cultural codes. What does it mean to represent a woman of India in this way? What established meanings might this image challenge? The visual structure invites us to question the power dynamics embedded in representation and perception.