Vrouw geeft een kind de borst 1756

This print of a woman breastfeeding was made by Jean Baptiste Marie Pierre using etching, a printmaking technique. The linear quality is the result of drawing with a sharp needle through a waxy ground on a metal plate. When immersed in acid, the exposed lines are bitten into the metal. The plate is then inked and printed, transferring the image to paper. Pierre's etching captures a tender moment, domestic and intimate. The lines vary in weight and density, creating a sense of light and shadow that defines the figures and their surroundings. In the 18th century, printmaking played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas. Etchings like this one allowed for the mass production of artworks, making them accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. The labor-intensive process reflects the social context of the time, where skilled craftsmanship and artisanal production were valued. The print's intimate subject matter invites reflection on themes of motherhood, care, and the everyday lives of women.