Roma Mother with Children 1650 - 1658

This print, Roma Mother with Children, was created by Cornelis Visscher in the 17th century and now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s a detailed study of light and shadow that pulls you into a scene of everyday life. The composition is dominated by the figures of a Roma mother and her children, set against a backdrop of both lush nature and distant landscape. Visscher uses crosshatching to create depth, texture, and shadow, giving the scene a rich, tactile quality. The lines define the subjects, from the folds in their clothing to the contours of their faces. This level of detail reflects the broader artistic interest in realism and the accurate representation of the world. The print invites us to consider the construction of identity and the representation of marginalized communities. The formal elements contribute to an understanding of both the scene and the values and assumptions of the time.