The Milliner (La modiste)

About this work

This sketch shows three women in a cozy room. The woman on the left is adjusting a hat on another woman’s head, while the third woman sits nearby, holding a fan. The lines are loose and quick, giving it a sketchy, unfinished feel. The artist used a technique called drypoint to create the texture—tiny scratches in the plate make the lines look rough. This was a way to add detail without heavy shading. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how artists like Goeneutte made prints like this.