Engelse vrouw van stand met schaar aan een ceintuur 1640 - 1707

This print of an English lady with scissors on her belt, was etched by Wenceslaus Hollar in the 17th century. Etching, a printmaking process, involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating an incised design. This plate is then inked and printed onto paper. The beauty of an etching lies in the artist's hand. Hollar’s confident, flowing lines capture the textures and light playing across the woman's garments. But look closer, and you'll notice the scissors hanging from her belt, a subtle detail signaling her social standing. In a world before ready-made clothing, sewing and tailoring were essential skills. Owning a fine pair of scissors, like these, suggested both status and a degree of self-sufficiency. Hollar elevates the everyday into the realm of art. The print reminds us that even seemingly mundane objects can hold significant cultural meaning, bridging the gap between craft and fine art.