Zogende vrouw 1882 - 1930

Camille Pissarro created this print, Zogende Vrouw, using etching, a process steeped in the traditions of both craft and fine art. The image is born from the metal plate; the artist covers the plate in a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratches an image into it with a needle. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This meticulous process allows for the creation of an image defined by its delicate lines and tonal depth. The texture, weight, color and form are all influenced by the depth and concentration of the etched lines, which create the image. This image is a window into a private moment, the artist’s emphasis on the labor of art-making encourages us to reflect on other forms of labor, like motherhood. Pissarro elevates the everyday and the domestic, challenging conventional artistic hierarchies. By understanding the labor involved in both its making and its subject, we gain a richer appreciation of this image.