Jonge vrouw met breiwerk 1860

This delicate image, "Jonge vrouw met breiwerk," was etched by Johann Wilhelm Kaiser. The print shows a woman knitting, standing in a doorway. But let’s consider the etching process itself. Kaiser meticulously cut lines into a metal plate, a demanding and skilled tradition, requiring careful labor to create the fine lines and tonal variations we see here. He used acid to bite into the exposed lines, allowing for the creation of the image. In this context, the act of knitting takes on another layer of meaning. Like etching, knitting is a slow, repetitive process, associated with domesticity and the labor of women. The image invites us to consider the value we place on different kinds of work, both artistic and domestic, and the ways in which these activities are gendered and situated within a broader social and economic context. Ultimately, this print asks us to consider the labor involved in its making. The choice of subject matter highlights the intersection of art, craft, and the everyday lives of women.