Young Woman Holding a Candle in a Bedchamber

Invented around 1640 by the German engraver Ludwig von Siegel, mezzotint was a process of engraving newly introduced in the 17th century. This method reflected the period interest in bringing the appearance of prints as close to painting as possible, as it only worked with areas of gradated colour tones, not with lines. Printmakers active in the northern Netherlands further perfected this exacting and time-consuming technique; some sheets are rendered with exceptional artistry and skill.