Twee Turkse vrouwen onderweg naar een badplaats 1555 - 1568

This engraving, "Two Turkish Women on the Way to a Bathhouse," was made by Léon Davent in the mid-16th century. He used a technique called etching to create the fine lines and details we see here. Consider how Davent carefully renders the textures of the women's clothing, contrasting the smooth, flowing lines of their robes with the intricate patterns on the parasol. Notice that the quality of the line allows for the creation of tone, and therefore three-dimensionality, adding a layer of richness to the overall composition. Engraving like this was not just a technical feat, it played a key role in circulating images and ideas widely at this time. Prints like these helped Europeans form ideas about foreign cultures, blending observation with imagination. The image gives us a glimpse into the social and cultural context of the 16th century. It reminds us that the way an artwork is made can tell us a lot about its purpose and the world it inhabited.