Standing Woman with a Child near a Fountain

Art Historical Context

**Standing Woman with a Child near Fountain**, an etching from 1667, showcases a collaboration between Dutch engraver Dancker Danerts and French artist Michel Dorigny. Created during the Baroque era, this intimate scene captures a poised woman and child beside a fountain, evoking the period's fascination with graceful figures and classical motifs. Danckerts, known for work in Rome, and Dorigny, a follower of Simon Vouet, together produced this print measuring about 10 by 8.5 inches, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection. Etching, the chosen medium, was revolutionary in the 17th century for its fluid lines and tonal depth, achieved by acid biting into a metal plate coated in ground. This technique allowed artists like Danckerts to replicate paintings with remarkable fidelity, making high art accessible beyond elite patrons. Such prints democratized imagery, circulating European styles across courts and collections. Housed in the Met's Drawings and Prints department since 1949, this work highlights the era's printmaking boom, bridging Dutch precision and French elegance. Visitors will appreciate its serene composition, a window into Baroque life's tender moments amid ornate fountains symbolizing abundance and renewal.

About the Artist

Dancker Danckerts|Michel Dorigny (Dutch|French) · 1634 |1616 –1666 |1665

Dutch, Amsterdam 1634–1666 Amsterdam|French, Saint-Quentin 1616/17–1665 Paris