Beeld van een vrouw met een vogel, naar rechts after 1663

This print, "Beeld van een vrouw met een vogel, naar rechts," was made by Jan de Bisschop sometime before 1671. The medium is etching, a printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive power of acid. The artist coats a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer, then scratches an image into that surface. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, leaving an impression that can then be inked and printed. The resulting image has a distinctive character. You can see it in the fine, precise lines and delicate gradations of tone that define the woman's form and the soft texture of her drapery. The linear quality is well suited to the Neoclassical style, so beloved in the 17th century, which is all about careful contour. Etching allowed De Bisschop to explore line and form with remarkable control, and to disseminate his work widely, a feature of early capitalism that allowed artists to circulate their ideas in a way previously unimaginable. When you look at this print, consider how its very making is intrinsic to its aesthetic power. It’s not just an image, it’s a record of a meticulous, repeatable process.