A detailed 1770 etching by Jean-Jacques de Boissieu, capturing the expressive, weary features of an elderly woman with fine line work.

Jean-Jacques de Boissieu, a French artist based in Lyon, produced this etching in 1770. The work captures a study of an elderly woman, rendered with the technical precision characteristic of his printmaking practice. De Boissieu often turned his attention to the inhabitants of his local region, documenting the faces of common people with a focus on character and texture.

The composition centres on the subject, who is depicted in profile, looking downwards. Her expression is one of weariness or perhaps irritation, which gives the piece its colloquial title. The artist uses fine, controlled lines to delineate the folds of the headscarf and the fabric of her garment. The shading around the face and neck is achieved through delicate cross-hatching, which creates a sense of volume and depth without relying on heavy ink application. The background remains largely unworked, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the psychological state of the subject.

De Boissieu was a self-taught etcher who admired the works of Rembrandt and the Dutch masters. This influence is visible in his approach to light and shadow, as well as his interest in the human condition. Unlike the idealised figures common in the art of his period, this portrait offers a candid observation of age and temperament. The print demonstrates his ability to convey personality through subtle shifts in line weight and density. It remains a fine example of eighteenth-century French printmaking, reflecting a shift towards more naturalistic and observational subject matter in the graphic arts.