Parabolic lenses have been formed by photoanodic etching of silicon in the form of profiles 22 mu m deep and 5 mu m in diameter. Observations with 17.46 keV radiation show that the focal length of the lenses is 7 cm and images with resolution of 3 mu m have been obtained. A procedure to evaluate the quality of real refracting profiles is suggested. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.