Vrouw met een parelsnoer, oorbellen, diadeem en strik 1760 - 1762

Thomas Frye created this mezzotint, “Woman with a Pearl Necklace, Earrings, Diadem, and Bow,” using ink on paper. The dark background pushes the pale figure forward, and the artist’s expert manipulation of light and shadow gives the image a soft, almost ethereal quality. Frye masterfully uses the textures afforded by the mezzotint technique to create a sense of depth. The pearls, ribbons, and lace each have a different luminosity, which gives the portrait a layered effect. These textures contrast with the smooth skin of the subject, whose gaze is direct, but whose expression is subtle. Looking at this image, consider how Frye uses the visual language of class and status, not to create an exact representation of a woman, but to compose a study in contrasts of light and texture.