Zittende vrouw met lappen 1633 - 1665

Reinhard Voskens created this small print of a seated woman during the Dutch Golden Age, using the technique of etching. A copper plate would have been coated with a waxy ground, and then the image scratched into it with a needle, exposing the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the lines, creating grooves that could hold ink. The resulting print shows an elderly woman at work, perhaps mending clothes. It’s a humble, everyday scene. The etcher’s line is economical but expressive, giving a strong sense of the textures of cloth, wood, and even the light filtering through the window. We can imagine the artist carefully controlling the acid bath to get just the right depth of line. What I find really compelling here is the convergence of artistic skill and the representation of labor. Voskens elevates the ordinary work of this woman by depicting it with such care and attention. It reminds us that all making has dignity, whether it’s a fine art print or a humble piece of needlework.