A detailed 1771 etching and engraving by Johann Georg Wille, depicting an elderly woman with a flower in a refined, realistic style.

Johann Georg Wille, a German engraver who spent the majority of his career in Paris, produced this work in 1771. The print, titled Soeur de la bonne femme de Normandie, demonstrates the technical precision for which Wille was known during the eighteenth century. The subject is an elderly woman, depicted with a focus on the textures of her skin and the folds of her head covering. She holds a small flower, a detail that introduces a quiet, contemplative element to the composition.

Wille was a master of the burin, and this piece exhibits his ability to create varied tonal values through dense cross-hatching and fine line work. The portrait is framed within a simulated border, a common device in prints of this era to provide a sense of depth and physical presence. The inscription below the image identifies the work as being dedicated to Monsieur de Besse, an architect to the King, which reflects the social and professional networks Wille navigated in the French capital.

The characterisation of the sitter is notable for its lack of idealisation. Wille captures the signs of age with clarity, moving away from the more decorative tendencies of the period to offer a study of human features. The lighting is directed to emphasise the contours of the face and the hand holding the bloom, creating a sense of volume against the darker background. This print remains a representative example of the high level of craftsmanship achieved by professional engravers in the late eighteenth century, who often translated paintings into reproducible formats for collectors and connoisseurs. The work is held in several major museum collections, including the British Museum, where it is documented as part of the artist's extensive catalogue of reproductive and original prints.