Vrouw in Franse landelijke kleding ca. 1620-1625, de handen in de zij

About this artwork

height 154 mm x width 83 mm

Art Historical Context

This charming etching, titled *Vrouw in Franse land kleding ca. 162-1625, de handen in de zij* ( in French Rural Clothing ca 1620-1625, Hands on Hips), captures a poised figure with hands confidently planted on her hips. Created by the French engraver and print publisher Israël Henriet during his active years from 1630 to 1661, the small-scale work measures just 154 mm high by 83 mm wide, making it an intimate glimpse into 17th-century life. Henriet, based in Paris, specialized in etchings—intaglio prints where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate for rich tonal depth and expressive detail. This medium was revolutionary in the Baroque era, allowing affordable dissemination of images to a wider audience beyond elite patrons. The subject's rustic French attire, dated to around 1620-1625, reflects everyday rural fashion during the early decades of Louis XIII's reign, evoking the simplicity and vitality of provincial women amid France's cultural shift toward absolutism. As a period document, the print offers cultural insight into social postures and dress, with the bold stance suggesting character and resilience. Henriet's precise technique highlights folds in fabric and subtle expressions, preserving a fleeting moment of 17th-century vernacular style for modern viewers.

About the Artist

Israël Henriet · 1585–1661

Israël Henriet (c. 1590–1661) stands as one of the most important figures in 17th-century French printmaking, not only as an accomplished engraver in his own right but as the principal publisher and preserver of Jacques Callot's extraordinary legacy. Born in Nancy, Lorraine, around 1590, Henriet belonged to an artistic family and grew up as a childhood friend of Callot, the preeminent printmaker o...