Thursday, 16 October 2014

The Coppersmith and His Wife



This print was based on Schleisner's painting 'In the Coppersmiths'



'Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.' - Jonathan Swift


The engraving twists the woman's features. She is given a very pointy chin and nose which intrude further into her husband's personal space. See how a gentlewoman has been rendered witch-like. 

Perhaps the engraver felt that women ought not interfere with men's work. Her assistance seemed suspicious him, or maybe he just didn't like women much. 

He has only made small changes but they change the feeling of the whole image. 




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