Boerenpaarden met ruiter 1850 - 1900

This is "Boerenpaarden met ruiter," or "Farm Horses with Rider" by George Gasovigne, made with an etching technique. Etching involves drawing an image into a prepared ground on a metal plate, and then using acid to bite the lines. This gives the printed image a distinctive quality – a dry, precise feel, due to the sharp lines. In this particular print, the material of the metal plate contributes a sense of labor and industry. It hints at the hard work required in farming, as well as the many hands that contribute to the production of art and agriculture. Note the deep indentations in the ground, which produce strong blacks, offset by open expanses of the page. The print captures a specific time and place, reflecting the social context of agrarian life. Paying attention to the material and process helps us see how art is made, and how it connects to wider issues of labor and the world around us.