Woman from Sessa - Bartolomeo Pinelli

An etching by Bartolomeo Pinelli documenting the traditional costume of a woman from Sessa, Italy, rendered with precise, clean lines.

This etching by Bartolomeo Pinelli depicts a woman from Sessa, a town in the Campania region of Italy. Pinelli, a Roman artist, gained recognition for his extensive documentation of Italian regional costumes and local customs during the early nineteenth century. His work often captured the distinct attire of rural populations, providing a visual record of social identities that were rapidly changing at the time.

The composition features a central figure dressed in traditional garments, including a head covering and a long, layered skirt. She carries a basket filled with what appears to be produce or small goods, rendered with the precise, clean lines characteristic of Pinelli's etching style. The background is minimal, suggesting a rural setting with a solitary tree and rolling hills, which directs the viewer's attention entirely to the subject's costume and posture. Pinelli's technique relies on clear, controlled hatching to define form and texture, avoiding unnecessary ornamentation to maintain a focus on the ethnographic detail of the subject.

Pinelli produced numerous series of prints documenting the inhabitants of the Italian peninsula. These works were collected by travellers on the Grand Tour, who sought authentic representations of the people they encountered. This print is typical of his approach: it is objective, descriptive, and technically disciplined. The artist's signature, 'Pinelli inv.', and the title, 'Donna di Sessa', appear at the bottom of the plate, along with the number 45, indicating its place within a larger series of costume studies. The work offers a clear view into the sartorial traditions of Sessa, preserved through the medium of fine-line etching.