La vieille
1851 to 1875
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
drypoint
Dimensions
sheet: 32.7 × 25.1 cm (12 7/8 × 9 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Addie Burr Clark
Accession Number
1946.9.64
Art Historical Context
William Lee-Hankey's *La vieille* ("The Old Woman"), a drypoint print from around 1851–1875, captures the quiet dignity of its elderly subject with remarkable intimacy. Hankey, a British artist renowned for his evocative depictions of everyday life, often drew inspiration from rural scenes and humble figures, blending realism with a soft, atmospheric touch. This work, measuring 32.7 × 25.1 cm, his skill in printmaking during a period when etching techniques were evolving to rival painting in expressive depth. Drypoint, the medium here, involves scratching directly into a copper plate with a s...