Portret van Elizabeth Mouton als kind met kap op het hoofd 1877 - 1950

Here we see Barbara Elisabeth van Houten’s etching of “Portret van Elizabeth Mouton als kind met kap op het hoofd.” The network of fine lines creates a soft, almost dreamlike visage. The composition is dominated by the subject’s face and head, framed by a bonnet. The artist’s use of hatching and cross-hatching gives volume to the face, while leaving much of the background and bonnet lightly defined, creating a sense of depth and focus on the child’s features. Van Houten’s technical approach invites us to consider the interplay between revelation and concealment. What is visible and what remains in shadow? How might the artist challenge conventional portraiture by playing with light, shadow and form? Consider how these elements, combined with the intimate scale of the etching, invite you to look and look again.