Kantklossende vrouw 1885

This etching by Frans Lauwers depicts a woman making lace, sometime around 1895. The image is created through the delicate process of etching, where lines are incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Notice how the density of lines creates a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the woman's clothing and the tools of her trade. Lace-making was a highly skilled and labor-intensive craft, often performed by women in their homes. The tools are simple—bobbins, pins, a cushion—but the technique required years of practice. Lauwers captures not only the physical act of making lace but also hints at the social and economic context of this work. Lace was a valuable commodity, traded across Europe, yet the makers themselves often lived in poverty. By focusing on the craft and the woman's skilled labor, Lauwers elevates this everyday activity to a subject worthy of artistic attention, questioning the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft.