Nude Woman Holding a Mirror (Allegory of Vanitas) c. 1503 - 1504

Jacopo de' Barbari created this tiny intaglio print, "Nude Woman Holding a Mirror," around 1500. The printmaking process requires a lot of labor. First, the artist would have meticulously incised the design into a copper plate with specialized tools. Then, the plate was inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate and a sheet of paper were pressed together with great force, transferring the image. The network of fine lines creates a full range of tones, capturing the woman’s soft, fleshy body. The figure is clearly idealized, yet the marks of the tool are always evident, reminding us of the physical effort required to make the image. The allegory of ‘vanitas’ reminds viewers of the transience of earthly life, especially beauty. The work is proof that the concept of ‘fine art’ is a relatively recent invention. Here, the skill of a goldsmith—for that is what de’ Barbari was—is put to expressive use.