Adellijke dame uit Parijs 1618

This etching of a noble lady from Paris was created by Claes Jansz. Visscher sometime before 1652. The print, made from an incised copper plate, is relatively small, and the artist has made every mark count, capturing a great deal of detail in the woman's dress, accessories, and pose. We can see her elaborate ruff, feathered headdress, the lace trim of her sleeves, her fan, and the pattern of her dress. What may be less apparent is that all these things - the clothes and fashionable accessories of the wealthy - are themselves products of considerable labor. The textile workers who made the fabric, the lacemakers who produced the trim, and the dressmakers who assembled the ensemble were all essential contributors to this image. This etching prompts us to consider not only the woman depicted, but also the many hands involved in her carefully constructed appearance. As such, it blurs boundaries between fine art and the labor of craft.