Artwork
Matrona Tiguriensis
Matrona Tiguriensis is an ink print by the Baroque artist Wenceslaus Hollar. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Matrona Tiguriensis is an etching executed in 1649 by the Czech-born printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar, who spent much of his professional life in England.
Matrona Tiguriensis is an etching executed in 1649 by the Czech-born printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar, who spent much of his professional life in England. The work presents a solitary female figure dressed in period costume, rendered in the stark monochrome of ink on paper. The title, placed beneath the image, identifies the sitter as a "matron of Tiguriensis," suggesting a regional or titular association.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman in a long, dark skirt that reaches the floor, a white ruffled collar, and a dark cape draped over her shoulders. Her hands are clasped before her chest, and a chain hangs from her belt, indicating a possible status marker. The restrained pose and modest attire convey a sense of dignity and quiet presence, typical of portraiture intended to denote social rank or civic identity.
Technique & Style
Hollar employed the traditional etching process, incising lines into a copper plate with acid before inking and pressing the image onto paper. The resulting lines are fine and precise, reflecting his reputation for meticulous detail in cityscapes and landscapes. The black‑and‑white palette emphasizes texture and contour, while the overall composition remains simple, allowing the figure’s clothing and accessories to dominate the visual field.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑seventeenth century, the print belongs to the period when Hollar was active in England, producing works that documented his observations of urban and rural settings. Although specific records of its original ownership are lacking, the etching has been catalogued among Hollar’s oeuvre and appears in collections that focus on early modern printmaking and portraiture.
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.
