Femme de Strasbourg allant par la Ville 1662

This print, titled "Femme de Strasbourg allant par la Ville," was made anonymously using engraving, a process in which lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The image shows us a woman in distinctive regional dress, every detail carefully rendered by the engraver’s hand. Look closely, and you can see the textures of her layered garments, from the crisp pleats of her skirt to the soft gathers of her sleeves. Each mark on the copper plate required the steady hand of a craftsman, making this print a labor of love and skill. Prints like these offered a way to represent the social landscape. While the copperplate could be reproduced in multiples, consider the labor of this printing method versus today's technologies. This piece reminds us to consider the many skilled hands that were vital to visual culture.