Jonge vrouw negeert de zedenles van een oude vrouw c. 1755 - 1807

This engraving, made by François Nicolas Barthélemy Dequevauviller, presents a scene laden with moral instruction. Engraving is a printmaking process that demands precision, skill, and time. The artist carves an image into a metal plate, often copper, with a tool called a burin. Ink is then forced into these grooves, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The very act of engraving, with its painstaking labor, speaks to the virtues of patience and discipline. The sharp lines and clear contrasts of the medium are perfect for didactic subjects. The image shows a young woman seemingly more interested in the contents of her jewelry box than the old woman giving her a talking to. The contrast between the woman's expensive garments and the old woman's worn attire subtly underscores the dangers of materialism and the value of traditional wisdom. Engraving was often commissioned by the wealthy as it was a luxury medium. Reflecting themes of labor, class, and consumption that were important to the cultural fabric of the time. Ultimately, this engraving reminds us that an artwork's meaning lies not only in its subject, but also in the materials and processes that bring it into being.