Mette Laasby 1754

Jonas Haas created this print of Mette Laasby using engraving techniques. The composition invites us to read it structurally through a series of carefully arranged contrasts. Note how the sharp, precise lines used to define the figure of Mette Laasby are juxtaposed against the softer, more diffuse lines suggesting the natural backdrop. This contrast separates the subject from her environment but also integrates her into a larger context, suggesting an interaction between the individual and nature. The play of light and shadow, meticulously rendered through hatching and cross-hatching, serves not merely to illuminate the subject, but also to create a sense of depth and volume. These formal choices reflect Enlightenment ideals about nature and representation. Haas is not just creating a likeness, but also suggesting a symbolic relationship between the sitter, her social standing, and the world around her. The very act of engraving, with its emphasis on line and form, underscores a desire to classify, understand, and ultimately, control visual information.