Portrait of a Young Woman (1647, Met-Objekt 2112)
Original title: Portrait of a Young Woman
kurzbeschreibung
Wenceslaus Hollar made this etching with drypoint in 1647. It shows a young woman enclosed in an oval frame. She wears a traditional headdress and simple clothing. The sheet represents the third of four states of the plate.
Description
Within an oval that surrounds her head and upper body, the young woman appears. Her headdress is trimmed with ribbons and ornaments; on her chest the clothing displays a striking pattern. The background is dark and textured, making the figure stand out. Fine lines and hatching bring out the facial features and the texture of the fabric.
Context
The Bohemian printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar made this portrait in 1647 while working in England. He was known for his detailed etchings and often worked on commission for nobles and collectors. Who the young woman was cannot be established with certainty — this is common with portraits of this kind.
Impact
The calm arrangement and precise linework give the portrait an elegant and restrained quality. Because the background remains dark and the shading is finely graded, a concentrated, almost intimate mood arises.
Technique
Etching and drypoint are combined here; some lines are very fine and appear slightly raised. The interplay of both techniques allows nuanced gradations of shadow and detailed rendering of surfaces. The plate measures 12.5 × 10.5 cm, the sheet 13.4 × 11.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)