Vrouw melkt koe 1876 - 1910

Alphonse Stengelin created this etching, "Vrouw melkt koe", using the simple materials of paper, metal, and ink. The process of etching involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratching an image into this coating. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines, and printed onto paper. The cross-hatching gives the whole scene a kind of rough-and-ready feeling, but it also speaks volumes about the labor required to produce food. The image asks us to reflect on the connections between the food we consume, and the processes and labor involved in bringing it to our tables. By attending to the materials and making of this artwork, we realize it connects deeply to broader social and economic realities.