Young Woman with Distaff, Facing Right
17th century
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 13.9 × 8.8 cm (5 1/2 × 3 7/16 in.) sheet (irreg.): 15.5 × 10.3 cm (6 1/8 × 4 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
R.L. Baumfeld Collection
Accession Number
1969.15.178
Art Historical Context
In the intimate etching *Young Woman with Distaff Facing Right*, Israel Henriet channels the masterful style of Jacques Callot, renowned 17th-century printmaker. Created as a reproductive print after Callot's design, this small-scale work (plate 13.9 × 8.8 cm) captures a poised young woman holding a distaff—a wooden staff used for holding wool during hand-spinning—symbolizing domestic labor and everyday life in Baroque Europe. Callot, a pioneer of etching, revolutionized printmaking with his intricate line work and ability to convey narrative depth in miniature formats. Etching on laid paper,...