Hazewindhond in een interieur 1890

Georges Montenez made this etching of a greyhound, sometime between 1873 and 1930. Etching is an printmaking process that relies on the corrosive power of acid to create lines in a metal plate. The plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant material, and the artist scratches away the coating to expose the metal. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed areas are eaten away, creating recessed lines. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The process allows for very fine, detailed lines, and a range of tonal effects. The technique was often favored by artists interested in capturing the textures and tones of everyday life, and could be widely reproduced. In this case, Montenez has beautifully captured the form and personality of the hazewindhond, within an intimate domestic setting.