A woman in a cap 

Ilya Repin made this etching, a woman in a cap, from Vitebsk, Belarus, in 1876. The work's most distinctive feature is the etched line, which defines the sitter's features. The dense hatching in the background serves as a visual anchor, while the delicate lines of the face and cap create a sense of intimacy. Etching is an indirect process, a printmaking technique with roots in the armorer’s workshop; the metal has to be prepared with an acid-resistant ground, and then lines are scratched through this coating. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. It is a labor-intensive process and the final image is dependent on the number of lines and the depth of the bite. Repin was interested in more than just appearances. By choosing etching, a medium capable of capturing fine detail and subtle tonal variations, he draws attention to the inner life of his subject. Ultimately, it is the materials, the process, and the social context that give the artwork its full meaning, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.