Oude vrouw met rozenkrans 1625 - 1630

This print, "Old Woman with Rosary," was made by Cornelis Bloemaert in the 17th century, using the technique of engraving. The image is defined by the precise, deliberate cuts into the metal plate, a process demanding considerable skill and patience. Engraving is an indirect process: the artist incises the image into a metal plate, applies ink, and then transfers it to paper using a press. Look closely, and you'll notice how Bloemaert uses the varying density of lines to create areas of light and shadow, defining the woman's wrinkled face and the texture of her garments. This wasn't a quick process. Each line represents time and labor. The choice of engraving as a medium speaks to the cultural values of the time, where skilled handwork was highly prized. While the print could be reproduced, and therefore circulated widely, the initial act of creation was intensely personal and physically demanding. This tension between the individual act of creation and the potential for mass production is really what makes prints so interesting. They invite us to consider the social and economic conditions that shape artistic production.