Hunting Dogs (Cani di caccia) 1889

Francesco Colombi Borde made this etching called "Hunting Dogs" at an unspecified date. It’s a print on paper, made by incising an image into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against it. Look closely and you can see a whole range of marks, from fine lines to dense cross-hatching. The artist used tools to physically manipulate the metal, achieving a rich tonal range. This labor-intensive technique gave artists control over the final image, enabling the creation of multiple original artworks. The scene captures dogs resting in what seems to be a kitchen, and there is a rustic, domestic quality in the overall feel of the print. This aesthetic reflects a broader trend of the late 19th century, when printed images became more common and were acquired as decorations for the homes of the middle classes. Considering the material and processes behind this etching gives us a glimpse into the social and economic context of its creation and consumption. It invites us to reconsider the place of prints within the hierarchy of art.