Vrouw met emmer (de Samaritaanse vrouw?) c. 1650 - 1700

This is a print by Frederick Bloemaert, called "Woman with a Bucket", made using etching. Etching is a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating, then scratched an image into it with a needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating lines. The plate is then inked, and the ink held in the etched lines is transferred to paper under pressure. The character in this piece is the antithesis of luxury, so it is interesting to see her image captured through a meticulous process and a costly medium of the time. Notice the detail in her plain dress, and the weight of the bucket she carries. Bloemaert's choice of etching underscores that even the most humble subject can be elevated through artistry. It's a reminder that the value we assign to art isn't always tied to its subject matter, but to the skill and labor involved in its making.