Portret van Anna Josepha gravin van Hohenlohe 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk produced this portrait of Anna Josepha, Countess von Hohenlohe, using the technique of etching sometime between 1660 and 1711. The etching process would have involved applying a waxy ground to a copper plate, then drawing through it with a needle to expose the metal. Immersing the plate in acid would bite away the exposed lines, allowing for intricate detail. The fine, delicate lines beautifully capture the countess's elaborate lace dress, emphasizing its texture and the skill required to produce such a garment. Consider the social context of this image. The Countess's dress, festooned with lace and ornamentation, speaks volumes about the labor and materials required to maintain such a level of adornment. The etching medium itself, while allowing for reproducibility, still required considerable artistry. Looking at this print, we can appreciate not just the image, but also the web of human effort and material wealth that it represents.