Wolf aangevallen door vijf jachthonden c. 1657 - 1761

Marcus de Bye made this print, “Wolf Attacked by Five Hunting Dogs,” using etching and engraving techniques. Look closely, and you can see how the artist used lines to create light and shadow, giving the scene its dramatic intensity. The printmaking processes are crucial here. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy ground, drawing through it with a needle, and then submerging the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Engraving, by contrast, uses a tool called a burin to directly cut lines into the metal. Both are skilled trades demanding years of practice. Prints like this one allowed images to be widely distributed, playing a key role in circulating ideas and tastes. Consider the social context. Hunting was a pastime of the wealthy, and prints like this would have appealed to that market. The image also reflects a changing relationship to the natural world, where wild animals were increasingly seen as a threat to be controlled. By understanding the materials, techniques, and social context, we can appreciate how this print operates, challenging distinctions between art, craft, and social commentary.