Buste van een vrouw in toga 1646 - 1670

Hubert Quellinus made this 'Bust of a Woman in Toga' using etching techniques. An etching is created by drawing with a needle on a wax-coated metal plate, which is then submerged in acid. The acid bites into the metal, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then cleaned, inked, and pressed onto paper. The character of the etched line is crucial here. Quellinus has used it to suggest the cool smoothness of marble, the medium associated with classical sculpture, the source of his inspiration. Notice how the etched lines follow the contours of the figure, creating volume and depth. The consistent cross-hatching in the background throws the figure into sharp relief, highlighting the artist's mastery of the medium, and his ability to emulate the qualities of sculpture through printmaking. Looking closely at the work allows us to appreciate how printmaking, often seen as a 'lesser' art form, can achieve effects comparable to those of sculpture. This piece encourages us to reconsider traditional hierarchies of artistic media.