Curatorial notes
Jean Emile Laboureur made 'Jager op het veld' using a meticulous etching process. Look at the density of lines; it's like he's building up the image bit by bit, a real testament to art-making as a gradual layering of marks. The textures here, achieved through these finely etched lines, give everything a tactile quality, even though it's just on paper. Notice how the lines on the field curve, suggesting a feeling of the earth turning. And there’s something almost comical about the hunter and his garb. It's a little bit silly and that feels very deliberate. Laboureur reminds me a bit of Pieter Bruegel, who also captured everyday life with a similar eye for detail. It's about seeing art as a conversation, a way of sharing ideas and perspectives across time. It's nice to know that a piece can hold so many possibilities, and that there isn't just one way to look at it.
