Ontluizing van een kind door een oude vrouw 1653

Editor: This etching by Jacques Dassonville from 1653, titled "Ontluizing van een kind door een oude vrouw," which translates to "Deflowering of a Child by an Old Woman," it's incredibly detailed. The texture achieved through etching really emphasizes the aged faces of the figures. I'm struck by how much detail Dassonville captured despite the small scale of the print. What do you see in the composition that stands out? Curator: Immediately, the use of line catches my attention. The density and direction of the lines are manipulated to create form, shadow, and texture. Note how Dassonville employs cross-hatching in the background, creating a stark contrast with the foreground figures, pushing them forward. Consider the placement of the figures. How does their arrangement impact your reading of the image? Editor: I see a grouping of older individuals focused around a child. They are clustered quite tightly together, with each looking at a specific object and having an intimate action completed on their head. I suppose they're all in a specific part of town known for getting that work done! Curator: Precisely. The diagonal composition leads the eye from the figure smoking a pipe to the downcast head of the child, then back again, trapping us in the process as a reader of this print. Also observe the use of light and dark – chiaroscuro – to add dramatic tension. Dassonville masterfully balances these elements to create a print with depth and complexity. It invites multiple viewings to fully grasp the technical and formal elements. Editor: That is very insightful. Paying close attention to how the lines guide you, it is clear what the artist wants the audience to engage with in the print. The placement and angles are indeed more complex than they seem. Thank you. Curator: Absolutely. It is through the manipulation of such artistic devices that an artist may create something to provoke and engage an audience with their choices.