Old woman and a boy with candles (ca. 1620–30)
Original title: Old woman and a boy with candles
kurzbeschreibung
An old woman and a boy hold a candle together — this motif defines the etching by Paulus Pontius from around 1620–30. The print is the second of two states and measures 24.7 × 19.3 cm.
Description
A fur hat and a dark gown mark the old woman, while the boy appears in a plain shirt. Together they hold a candle, the woman seeming to light it or adjust it, the boy watching attentively. The background stays dark and undefined, so the figures stand out. The arrangement is symmetrical, with the two figures at the center. Carefully executed shading emphasizes the texture and form of their bodies.
Context
Paulus Pontius, a Flemish engraver and etcher, is best known for his reproductive engravings after Peter Paul Rubens. This etching was made in the 1620s, when Dutch art favored everyday scenes and character portraits. The print may derive from a model by Rubens or another artist, but its exact provenance is not certain.
Impact
The strong contrast of light and dark creates an intimate, almost nocturnal mood. Precise linework and rich shading give the figures striking volume and draw the eye to the holding of the candle as the central action.
Technique
This print is an etching, an intaglio process in which lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid. The precise, sharp linework and fine shading demonstrate the artist's high technical skill. The present impression is the second state, indicating later reworking or corrections to the plate.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)