Vrouw en hond 1952 - 2005

This is Aat Verhoog’s ‘Vrouw en hond’ or ‘Woman and Dog’, an etching, made sometime in the twentieth century. The image is a whole world rendered in black and white with an etching needle, capturing a woman throwing a ball to a dog. Look closely at the marks, the cross hatching and stippling that create the tones of this pastoral scene. The density of the marks builds up a real sense of light and shadow. See how the seemingly blank space of the dog’s body becomes a solid form through the contrast with its surroundings. The texture of the land has a slightly ominous feel, contrasting with the joy of the dog in motion. The figure of the woman, meanwhile, is composed of solid dark lines against the grainy surface. This makes me think of other great printmakers, maybe someone like Paula Rego, using simple means to suggest something about the hidden side of domestic life. There’s more going on here than meets the eye.