Four Dogs, from Die Zweite Thierfolge 1799 - 1803

Johann Christian Reinhart made this print, Four Dogs, from Die Zweite Thierfolge. An etching like this one involves coating a metal plate with a waxy ground, then drawing through it with a sharp needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This process can be repeated to create different tones. What interests me most about prints like these is their capacity to communicate across social divides. Printing was a mechanised process, meaning that many impressions could be pulled. This one would have allowed Reinhart’s vision to spread far beyond the rarified circles of fine art, and into the homes of ordinary people. It’s thought that Reinhart produced animal prints such as this one for the purpose of teaching young artists how to draw them; yet, by choosing the medium of print, he also enabled their wider circulation and enjoyment.