Cows at the Watering Place 1850

Charles Jacque made this etching, 'Cows at the Watering Place', using a metal plate, acid, and ink. The image is made up of very fine lines, etched into the plate and then printed, allowing for the creation of multiple copies. Look closely, and you can see how the varying densities of line create areas of light and shadow, giving form to the cows, the landscape, and the figure of the herdsman. The process of etching allows for a high level of detail, capturing the texture of the cows' hides and the foliage of the trees. The print hints at the changing rural economy of 19th-century France. As the burgeoning middle class demanded more meat and dairy, agricultural practices intensified, and the romantic vision of rural life became a popular subject in art. Jacque’s choice of a repeatable medium makes this image of agricultural life more widely accessible, reflecting the changing dynamics of art consumption during this period. Ultimately, the work makes one ask, 'Whose labour are we looking at here?'