Vue de la Baleine échouée le 4 Novembre 1827 (...) / Gezigt van den op 4.en November 1827, gestranden Walvisch, ten Oosten van de haven van oostende, en waar van het geraamte is aangeboden aan zyne Majesteit Willem I (...) 1827 - 1828

Michel Thomas Antoine Van Cuyck made this print of a beached whale in 1827. Its fine lines were incised into a copper plate, before being inked and pressed onto paper. The image shows a spectacle, both natural and social. The whale’s great mass is emphasized by the crowds of onlookers, and in the distance we can see the town of Ostend. The print is incredibly detailed, which would have required considerable skill and time. The hatching, cross-hatching and stippling – all made with simple tools like burins and needles – create a rich range of tones. The work is more than just a record; it captures the cultural significance of this event. The whale becomes a symbol of both wonder and potential resource, its skeleton offered to King Willem I. This print, multiplied and distributed, reflects an emerging culture of mass media, and a growing public fascination with natural phenomena. It reminds us how intertwined our perception of nature is with cultural values and modes of production.