Reseller 1737

This is "Reseller", an etching by Anne Claude Philippe Caylus. Observe how Caylus uses line and form to present us with a study of a reseller. The figure's voluminous dress and head covering are rendered with curved lines. The weight of the cloth is created by the artist's concentration of darker etched lines, and the opposite effect is achieved with areas of sparse hatching. Her turned head and the object she carries are presented in sharp focus. The stark geometry of the window frame contrasts with the softer rendition of her clothing and the rounded form of her body. Caylus presents the figure, with both sensitivity and objectivity. The detailed rendering of her dress and her downcast gaze create a sense of intimacy. Yet, the reseller stands apart, framed by negative space around her. The lack of background, or any detail, asks us to consider how Caylus uses the interplay between the materiality of the etching and the human subject. In this way, Caylus creates a work that is both a social study and a meditation on the possibilities of form.