Portret van Saskia van Uylenburgh 1884

Piet Verhaert created this portrait of Saskia van Uylenburgh, likely around the turn of the 20th century, using etching. This printmaking technique involves drawing an image into a prepared ground on a metal plate, then using acid to bite into the exposed lines. The plate is then inked and run through a press. Look closely and you can see the dense network of fine lines that build up the image, a testament to Verhaert’s skill. Compared to painting, etching allowed for a more democratic distribution of images. This was important during a period of increasing industrialization, where new technologies transformed society. The labor in this etching stands in stark contrast to the mass production of images during the same time. By focusing on the material and the making, we see how the artist positions himself in relation to both tradition and modernity.