Koeien, een stier en een os in een landschap 1583

This print, *Cows, a Bull and an Ox in a Landscape*, was made by Marcus Gheeraerts in the late 16th century using an engraving technique. The image is created by incising lines onto a metal plate, likely copper, with a tool called a burin. The depth and density of these lines determine the tonal variation, creating a detailed depiction of livestock in their pastoral environment. This was a highly skilled and labor-intensive process, demanding precision and control. Prints like these played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas during the early modern period. They were relatively inexpensive to produce in multiples, making art accessible to a broader audience beyond the elite. In this context, we might think of the print as an early form of mass media, helping to shape perceptions of rural life and the agricultural economy. So, next time you see a print like this, think about the skilled work that went into it, and its role in a developing system of mass communication.