Lezende oude vrouw met knijpbril 1746 - 1793

Theodorus de Roode created this etching, "Lezende oude vrouw met knijpbril", in the late 18th century. The image shows a woman with a head covering and spectacles, intently reading. The composition is striking. De Roode employs a dense network of fine lines to build tone and texture. Notice the contrast between the deeply etched lines that define the contours of her face and the softer, more diffuse lines in the background. The hatching technique creates a sense of volume, particularly in the folds of her head covering and the pages of the book. This formal tension between precision and ambiguity, between line and form, invites us to consider the very act of seeing and interpreting. Furthermore, the woman's engagement with the text raises questions about representation and knowledge. Is she a figure of piety, as the French title "La Dévote" suggests, or does the artist invite a more nuanced reading, perhaps questioning the nature of faith itself? The beauty of the work resides in this openness to multiple interpretations.