Paard in een stal 1834 - 1882

This print of a horse in a stable was made by Adrien Joseph Verhoeven-Ball using the intaglio process of etching. Look closely, and you’ll notice the fine lines that define the horse’s form and the interior of the stable. These were created by drawing into a waxy ground on a metal plate with a sharp needle, which was then exposed to acid. The acid bites into the metal, creating incised lines that hold ink. The plate is then wiped clean, and the ink remains only in the etched lines. When printed, the image is transferred to paper under great pressure. The image hints at the labor and lives of working-class people and animals in 19th-century Belgium. Etching allowed artists to reproduce images quickly and affordably, making art more accessible. Verhoeven-Ball's choice of subject matter reflects a broader interest in the everyday lives of ordinary people, and the relationship between humans and animals in the context of agricultural labor. By focusing on the materials and processes involved in the creation of this print, we can better appreciate its social and cultural significance, and the complex ways in which art reflects the world around us.