Buste van een jonge vrouw 1773

Louis Marin Bonnet made this print, "Buste van een jonge vrouw," using the “crayon manner,” a color printing technique meant to mimic chalk drawings. To achieve this effect, Bonnet used a combination of etching and engraving, along with multiple plates, each inked with a different color. The challenge was to align these plates perfectly, building up the image in layers, with each color adding depth and volume. Look closely, and you can see the traces of this meticulous labor. The overall effect is quite soft and gentle, a testament to the artist's mastery of his chosen media. This print reflects a broader trend in the 18th century, where printmaking was not just about reproduction, but about pushing the boundaries of the medium itself, in pursuit of painterly effects. It’s a fascinating example of how traditional artistic skills could be adapted to new technologies, creating a visual experience that blurred the lines between drawing and print.