Vrouw met wierookbrander 1785 - 1790

Edward Edwards created this etching, "Vrouw met wierookbrander," which translates to "Woman with Incense Burner," during the late 18th century. Edwards lived during an era defined by shifting social structures, where the artistic representation of women often navigated between idealized virtue and objectification. The image depicts a woman, her gaze averted, holding an incense burner aloft. In many ways the image is classical, her drapery resembles togas of ancient Rome. There's a tension here, though. The act of burning incense is often associated with purification or prayer, yet the woman's posture and the landscape suggest something other than traditional piety. Consider the historical context of the print as a medium. Prints made art accessible to a wider audience, outside of wealthy patrons. Does this change our interpretation of who the image of the woman is for? Or what the symbolism of incense might have been to the engraver, the subject, and the audience? Ultimately, this artwork invites us to consider the complex ways in which gender, class, and spirituality intersect within the visual culture of the time.