Artwork
Mulier Danica
Mulier Danica 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
Overview
Created in 1643, *Mulier Danica* is an etching by the Czech-born printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar, who spent much of his professional life in England. The work forms part of a larger collection of prints that record traditional dress from various European regions, offering a visual catalogue of contemporary costume.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a solitary female figure dressed in what was identified as Danish attire. She is cloaked in a dark, hooded mantle that covers her shoulders and torso, complemented by a white ruff at the neck and a modest cap. Her footwear is shown with striped stockings, and she stands upon a simple floor line, emphasizing the costume rather than a narrative scene.
Technique & Style
Hollar employed the etching process, incising a metal plate with acid to produce delicate lines and tonal variations. The resulting monochrome print displays fine hatching and cross‑hatching that render the folds of the cloak, the texture of the fabric, and subtle shading on the figure’s features, characteristic of Hollar’s meticulous approach to detail.
History & Provenance
The print emerged during Hollar’s productive period in England, where he was known for topographical and documentary works. *Mulier Danica* was likely intended for a market interested in ethnographic illustration, and it has since been preserved in several European print collections, reflecting its role as a historical record of 17th‑century 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.
