Portretten van een courtisane en haar kamermeid 1630 - 1632

Crispijn van de Passe the Younger made this print of a courtesan and her chambermaid using engraving, a printmaking technique, sometime before 1670. Look closely, and you'll see that the image is composed of a dense network of lines, meticulously incised into a copper plate. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut these lines, each one catching ink and transferring it to the paper during printing. The density and direction of these lines create the illusion of light and shadow, defining the forms of the two figures. Engraving was a skilled and laborious process, demanding precision and control. In the context of the 17th century, prints like these played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas, acting as a kind of early mass media. The very act of engraving, with its intricate detail and technical mastery, elevated the status of the image, transforming it from a mere likeness into a valuable commodity. Considering the social status of the women depicted, this print blurs the line between the fine and the applied arts; it invites us to contemplate the complex relationship between labor, representation, and the market.