Mercatoris Londinensis Filia
1643
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1643
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Mercatoris Londinensis Filia is a 1643 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white drawing shows a woman standing sideways, dressed in a long, patterned dress and a dark cape. She’s holding a small bag in one hand, and her hair is pulled back under a cap. The floor beneath her looks like simple wood planks, and the whole scene has a slightly rough, sketchy look. The title at the top calls her a "merchants’ daughter," and the artist’s name, Wenceslaus Hollar, is signed in the corner. This kind of drawing was made using a technique where the artist scratches into a metal plate. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Hollar created these detailed prints.
