Stående Tyrekalv 1847 - 1938

This print, *Stående Tyrekalv*, of a standing bull calf, was made by an anonymous artist using etching on paper. The etcher would have coated a metal plate with wax, drawn an image into the wax, and then bathed the plate in acid. The acid bites into the metal where the wax has been removed, creating an image that can then be inked and printed. The dense network of lines that describes the calf’s musculature testifies to the labor involved. Consider the socio-economic context that it reflects: the labor that goes into animal husbandry, slaughter, and food production. A print like this could have served as a study for a larger painting or as an artwork in its own right. The piece is a reminder that even seemingly simple images are the result of a complex interplay between materials, techniques, and cultural values. It blurs the lines between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the skill and labor involved in its making.