Buste van een vrouw met hoofdtooi 1750 - 1800

Jean-Augustin Léveillé created this print of a woman with a headdress using etching and engraving techniques. Look closely, and you'll see the subtle tonal variations achieved through the painstaking process of applying acid to a metal plate. The fine lines, crisp details, and delicate textures come from the skilled hand of the engraver. Léveillé used tools to incise lines into a metal plate, creating an image capable of being reproduced many times. The paper itself, likely handmade, adds another layer of texture and tactility to the print. Prints like these served a crucial purpose, reproducing likenesses that would otherwise be available only as unique paintings. Consider the labor involved in both the creation of the original portrait and the subsequent printing process, which would have provided images of beauty and status to a broader audience. By emphasizing materials, making, and context, we can move beyond traditional distinctions between fine art and craft to appreciate the social and cultural significance embedded within this portrait.