Artwork
Ciuis Coloniesis Vxor
Ciuis Coloniesis Vxor is an ink print by the Baroque artist Wenceslaus Hollar. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The artist used fine lines to show the texture of her clothes and hair, making everything look detailed.
This is a black-and-white drawing of a woman standing sideways. She wears a long, flowing robe with a hood pulled over her head, and a small cap with a pom-pom on top. In her hands, she holds a woven basket and a folded cloth.
The artist used fine lines to show the texture of her clothes and hair, making everything look detailed. The text at the bottom reads *"Ciuis Coloniesis Vxor"* and the date "1643."
If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists create these kinds of prints.
Overview
Created in 1643, *Ciuis Coloniesis Vxor* is an etching by the Czech-born printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar, who worked primarily in England. The work presents a solitary woman rendered in profile, dressed in a long robe with a hood and a small capped pom‑pom. She holds a woven basket and a folded cloth, her figure placed within an interior or street setting that reflects Hollar’s observational approach.
Subject & Meaning
The image focuses on a domestic figure, suggesting everyday activity rather than allegorical narrative. The woman’s attire and the objects she carries—basket and cloth—imply tasks associated with household management or market trade, offering a glimpse into 17th‑century urban life as seen through Hollar’s eye for ordinary scenes.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine, intersecting lines characteristic of Hollar’s etching method, the print achieves delicate texture in the fabric, hair, and surrounding space. The artist’s control of line weight creates subtle gradations of tone, while the precise incisions convey a clear sense of volume and materiality within the monochrome medium.
History & Provenance
Hollar produced the etching during a prolific period when he was documenting the visual culture of both Prague and London. The work bears the inscription *Ciuis Coloniesis Vxor* and the date 1643, anchoring it within his early English output. Its survival in collections reflects the continued interest in Hollar’s documentary prints of everyday life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
