De deugdzame vrouw verkoopt haar waren 1555

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created "The Virtuous Woman Selling Her Wares" using etching. Notice how Coornhert’s composition is structured around the play of contrasts. The detailed foreground, featuring figures engaged in trade, sharply opposes the expansive background with its bustling harbor scene. The lines are finely etched, creating a textured surface that invites close inspection, while the use of light and shadow defines the forms and adds depth. The figures are rendered with attention to their garments and expressions, set against the backdrop of merchant activity and maritime commerce. The virtuous woman is depicted with dignity, engaging in the economic sphere, challenging traditional notions of women's roles. This is an insightful commentary on the evolving societal norms of the time. The composition thus functions as a semiotic space, conveying complex messages about virtue, commerce, and gender roles.