Lezende vrouw 1737 - 1787

Carl Ludwig Stieglitz created this line etching titled 'Lezende Vrouw', or 'Reading Woman', in the 18th century. Notice how the composition is built from a dense network of fine lines, creating a sense of intimacy. The figure of the woman is framed within a tight, almost claustrophobic space, drawing our attention to her absorption in reading. The structural use of line in this print is particularly striking. Stieglitz employs a combination of hatching and cross-hatching to build volume and shadow. This formal choice is not merely descriptive; it actively shapes our perception. The density of lines around the woman’s face and book contrasts with the relative emptiness of the background, reinforcing the idea of focused attention and intellectual engagement. Such a representation prompts questions about the role of women and literacy during this period. Does this image serve to celebrate female intellect, or does it confine the woman to a domestic sphere, quietly engrossed in her own private world? This tension between visibility and confinement is visually expressed through the etching's formal qualities, inviting us to reflect on broader cultural meanings.