Titelprent met een oude vrouw met stok 1765

This print, made by Jean Baptist Leprince sometime in the 18th century, shows an old woman with a walking stick, rendered in fine lines of etching. The etching process itself involves covering a metal plate with wax, drawing through it with a needle, and then immersing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, leaving behind incised lines that hold ink. This is a highly skilled process, demanding control and precision. The fineness of the lines here speaks to the etcher’s mastery. The image is a ‘titelprent,’ or title page, for a series of costume studies. This suggests an interest in the outward signs of social identity, and perhaps a desire to classify people based on their appearance. The amount of work involved in etching, and the social context in which Leprince was working, invites us to think critically about the relationship between labor, representation, and social class. Ultimately, understanding the materials, making, and context allows us to fully appreciate the nuances of this seemingly simple artwork.