Vrouw met een olielamp 1662 - 1726

This mezzotint, ‘Woman with an Oil Lamp,’ was made by Gerard Valck around the turn of the 18th century. It's created with a copper plate, meticulously roughened with a tool called a rocker, then burnished smooth in areas to create the image. Look at the remarkable tonal range achieved in this print, from the velvety blacks of the background, to the soft glow of the candlelight. Consider the labor involved; the rocker tool had to be passed over the entire plate to create the texture that holds the ink. It’s a physically demanding process and incredibly time-consuming. The level of skill required to control the tonal values shows how printmaking was elevated from a reproductive craft to a high art form. In this print, Valck not only demonstrates his technical virtuosity but also invites us to reflect on the cultural significance of light, and the many hours of work that are involved in its representation. Valck challenges our notions of fine art and craft.