Zittend vrouw met voet op voetstoof 1828

Anthonie Willem Hendrik Nolthenius de Man made this small etching of a seated woman sometime before 1842. Look closely, and you will notice the network of fine lines used to describe the scene. This suggests that the artist employed the etching process, using acid to bite into a metal plate, probably copper or zinc, to create the lines that hold ink. The way the lines vary in thickness and depth gives the image its shading and texture, from the soft folds of her clothing to the quiet stillness of the room. As a print, this image exists in multiple, and would have been more accessible to a wider audience than a unique drawing or painting. The image is small and delicate, but the many lines suggest the labor-intensive process involved in producing it. Consider the implications of an artistic practice which straddles a line between artistic expression, and a form of proto-industrial production. Recognizing these social and material factors can help us fully appreciate the skill and artistry involved in the creation of this print.