Artwork
Noble Woman with Fan
Noble Woman with Fan is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1622, this etching on laid paper depicts a solitary aristocratic woman standing on an urban street.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1622, this etching on laid paper depicts a solitary aristocratic woman standing on an urban street. Executed by Jacques Callot, a prolific French printmaker of the early seventeenth century, the image combines a finely rendered figure with a bustling background, illustrating both personal elegance and the everyday environment of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a noblewoman dressed in an elaborate gown with a ruffled collar, a necklace, and a fan held in her right hand. Her bobbed hairstyle and composed expression convey a sense of dignified poise, while the surrounding street activity suggests her presence within a broader social setting, hinting at the interplay between status and public life.
Technique & Style
Callot employs delicate line work and subtle hatching to model the folds of fabric, the texture of stone, and the figures in the background. The use of fine, cross‑hatched shading creates depth and a tactile quality typical of Baroque printmaking, allowing the viewer to discern intricate details such as jewelry, architectural elements, and the play of light across surfaces.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to Callot’s extensive output of more than 1,400 etchings, which documented a wide range of subjects from courtly pageantry to common street scenes. Produced in the Duchy of Lorraine, the work reflects the artist’s early career before his later move to Paris, where he continued to influence European printmaking.
Context
During the early seventeenth century, French art was increasingly influenced by the Baroque emphasis on drama and realism. Callot’s prints, including this one, merge meticulous observation with narrative content, offering a visual record of contemporary fashion, architecture, and social interaction within a rapidly urbanizing society.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques Callot (French: ; c. 1592 – 1635) was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine. He is an important person in the development of the old master print. He made more than 1,400 etchings that…
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