Vrouw met bloemen op haar schoot 1905

This print, Vrouw met bloemen op haar schoot, was made with etching by Willem Adrianus Grondhout. It’s a picture of someone sitting with flowers in their lap. I love the way it feels so casual. The texture of the print is made up of all these little lines, like a map. And the lines aren’t just lines, they make shadows and shapes, and they give the whole thing this intimate feeling, like you’re right there with her. Look at the way the lines are really tight on her dress, and much looser on the wall behind. See how those different marks create depth in the picture? I always think about other printmakers when I see something like this. Anders Zorn made really beautiful etchings that were really popular at the time, so maybe Grondhout was looking at his work. Anyway, like with any work of art, it’s all about looking and seeing and feeling.