The Pig-Butcher 1844

Curator: I’m instantly struck by how visceral this image is. It feels almost… primal. There's a roughness, a starkness. Editor: That’s a wonderful way to put it. We're looking at "The Pig-Butcher," an etching made on paper in 1844 by Charles Jacque. It belongs to the Art Institute of Chicago's collection and gives a fascinating glimpse into everyday life. Curator: An etching... of course. That explains the incredible detail within the confines of the small image. I mean, the way the light flickers across the pig carcass, the almost frenzied activity suggested by the lines... you can practically smell the blood. Morbid, I know! But so evocative. Editor: It's that contrast between the banality of the task – providing food – and the raw, unflinching depiction that grabs your attention. The scene is undeniably grim, and I wonder how its public context shaped how this imagery might have been received. Etchings at that time, 1844, were also becoming quite accessible and widely spread through illustrated newspapers and books, so what might this reveal? Curator: Accessible, yet challenging. Genre paintings were designed to depict everyday life and appeal to the masses, however some may find these elements troubling. Perhaps a deliberate decision by Jacque to show us, unfiltered, where our food comes from? Maybe a commentary on man's relationship with the natural world, painted not in broad strokes but scratched out and bled into the paper... in every detail? Editor: Exactly, consider that while Jacque wasn’t necessarily engaged in overt political commentary, depicting scenes like this forced a certain segment of society to confront aspects of existence they’d perhaps prefer to keep at arm's length. How many wealthy Parisian dining rooms were consciously aware of scenes like this allowing their feasts to be possible? Curator: It makes you wonder what conversations were sparked over brandy and cigars after encountering this print. It's beautiful and brutal and thought-provoking. Editor: Beautifully said! Jacque manages to raise so many important points with such simplicity. I, too, will keep that in my mind as I contemplate the image now.