Vrouw met geslachte kip in venster c. 1825 - 1852

Antoine Maurin made this print, "Woman with Slaughtered Chicken in Window," using etching and engraving. These aren't exactly everyday materials, but they were essential to the reproductive print industry of the 19th century. The texture of the paper itself has a huge effect on how we see this image. Etching and engraving allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, fueling a growing market for affordable art. The original image would have taken considerable skill to produce; it's not just a direct copy. It's an interpretation, with Maurin making countless decisions about line weight and tone. The composition also emphasizes the materiality of everyday life, with the smooth metal of the pitcher contrasting with the rough feathers of the chicken. The chicken, of course, represents labor most directly. Considering these factors, we see how attention to materials and processes provides a richer understanding of the artwork. It blurs the boundaries between high art and the commercial image, revealing the social and economic context of its creation.