Madame Bouthillier

About this work

This black-and-white portrait shows a woman with a serious expression, her face framed by a wide, decorative oval border. She wears a high-collared dress with a ruff around her neck, and her hair is pulled back neatly. The background is plain, keeping all focus on her face. The tiny lines and shading around her face and collar are made by a technique called cross-hatching. It’s how the artist built up dark and light areas without color. Look up engraving to see how artists like this one carved fine details into metal plates.