Twee vrouwenhoofden 1762 - 1814

This image shows two women's heads, created by Jean François Janinet around the late 18th century using etching and possibly aquatint. Janinet was a master of color printmaking, and here, we see the delicate lines achieved through etching, which are enhanced by the subtle tonal variations that were created through successive washes of color. The process of etching, where the design is bitten into a metal plate with acid, allowed for multiple impressions to be made, a crucial aspect of printmaking's role in disseminating images and ideas. It speaks to the rise of a print culture and the democratization of art in the 18th century. It's worth considering the labor involved in creating these prints. From the engravers, to the printers, and distributors. Looking at this image we gain insight into the cultural and economic context of its creation and consumption, and perhaps even begin to challenge our traditional understanding of Janinet's work as 'fine art.'