Artwork
Mulier Austriae Superioris
Mulier Austriae Superioris 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
She wears a long, striped skirt, a high-collared dress, and a cape that drapes over her shoulders.
This is a black-and-white drawing of a woman standing straight ahead. She wears a long, striped skirt, a high-collared dress, and a cape that drapes over her shoulders. Her hair is pulled back, and she looks calm, holding something small in her left hand.
The title below says *"Mulier Austriae Superioris"*—Latin for "Woman of Superior Austria." The artist’s name, *Hollar*, is signed at the bottom, along with the year *1643*.
Look up etching next to see how this kind of drawing was made.
Overview
Wenceslaus Hollar’s 1643 etching *Mulier Austriae Superioris* presents a solitary female figure rendered in monochrome. The composition is simple, with the woman standing against an unadorned backdrop, allowing the details of her attire and posture to dominate the visual field. The work exemplifies Hollar’s precise line work and his interest in documenting contemporary dress.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is dressed in early‑17th‑century attire: a long striped skirt, a high‑collared bodice, and a draped cape over her shoulders. Her hair is gathered back, and she holds a small object in her left hand, suggesting a modest, perhaps domestic, activity. The Latin title, “Woman of Upper Austria,” identifies her regional origin, though no narrative context is provided beyond this designation.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the image was created by incising lines into a copper plate with acid, then printing the inked surface onto paper. Hollar’s characteristic fine hatching and careful modulation of tone give the figure a sense of texture and volume, while the plain background emphasizes the crispness of the line work.
History & Provenance
Hollar, a Czech‑born printmaker who spent much of his professional life in England, produced this work during a period of extensive travel across Europe. The plate bears his signature and the date 1643, situating it within his mature output. The print has been catalogued in several collections of 17th‑century European prints, reflecting its role as a documentary example of period costume.
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.
