Portret van een onbekende oude vrouw, en profil Possibly 1894 - 1898

This print, "Portrait of an Unknown Old Woman, en profil," was made by Mary Hector Rupert Cantineau. Though undated, the work provides a fascinating glimpse into a printmaking tradition that extends back to the Old Masters. The medium here is key: etching. The artist would have painstakingly drawn an image on a metal plate coated with wax, then bathed the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, leaving an image that can then be inked and printed. Consider the labor involved – the careful drawing, the chemical process, the repetitive printing. This print is not just an image, but an object born of skilled work. The fine lines capture the woman's features with honesty and empathy. The print’s tonal range, from deep blacks to soft grays, gives the image depth and volume. By focusing on the materiality and process of etching, we can appreciate the artist's craft. The image provides a window into both the life of the sitter, and the artistic practices of the time.