Portret van een jonge dame genaamd Lilia 1838

Henricus Wilhelmus Couwenberg created this portrait of a young lady named Lilia using etching and engraving techniques. The composition is dominated by the figure, whose elaborate dress and headwear fill the frame, creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The texture is particularly notable; Couwenberg masterfully uses line variations to simulate the softness of the fabrics and the delicate features of the subject's face. The contrast between light and shadow sculpts the forms, giving volume to the figure and emphasizing the intricate details of her attire. This portrait destabilizes traditional notions of representation by focusing less on idealized beauty and more on capturing the texture and form. Couwenberg's emphasis on the materiality of the etching and engraving process draws attention to the artwork as an object, challenging fixed notions of artistic skill. The varying marks are not merely representational but also expressive in their own right. Through a close examination of its formal elements, we begin to appreciate its construction and meaning.