A Woman from Altmark 1570

Melchior Lorck made this image of a woman from Altmark in 1570, using etching on iron. Here, the artist incised lines on an iron plate, which would then have been submerged in acid to eat away at the exposed metal. The plate was then inked and printed, resulting in the image you see. The density of the lines creates a sense of volume, particularly in the woman’s dress and headdress. Note how the etching technique allows for the reproduction of intricate details, such as the folds in her clothing and the texture of the ground. Lorck was a skilled draftsman, and he used his mastery of line to create a lifelike representation of his subject. But it’s important to remember that this image is not just a neutral record. It is a product of its time, reflecting the social and economic conditions of 16th-century Europe. The very act of making a print implies a desire to disseminate images widely, to be consumed by a broad audience. This brings "A Woman from Altmark" into the sphere of early capitalism, where art became a commodity, and artists like Lorck were increasingly reliant on the market for their livelihood.