Vrouw met laag decolleté en parelketting 1642

Wenceslaus Hollar created this etching of a woman with a low neckline and pearl necklace. The composition draws our eye directly to the woman's face, framed by a circular border. Hollar's use of fine lines and hatching creates a delicate texture, giving the image a soft, almost dreamlike quality. The circular composition provides a structured boundary, within which the woman’s features—her eyes, the gentle curve of her cheek, and the elaborate curls of her hair—are rendered with meticulous detail. The semiotic elements present, such as the pearl necklace and low-cut dress, can be read as signs of status and femininity. Hollar invites the viewer to consider the ways in which identity is constructed and communicated through visual representation. Through the interplay of line, form, and composition, this work offers a glimpse into the visual culture and social values of the 17th century.