Twee geiten en twee kippen in een stal 1879 - 1932

Adolf Eduard Herstein made this etching of two goats and two chickens sometime between 1880 and 1932. It's an image of the countryside rendered in stark black lines. The rapid, dense strokes build up dark shadows, yet the animals are picked out with an appealing light touch. I can almost feel the artist leaning in close, squinting to see the differences in tone, scratching lines on the plate, and wiping away excess ink. The image feels like a conversation between him and the scene before him. What's so charming to me is how he captures the essence of these farm animals with such economy, so few lines. It reminds me of other printmakers like Félix Vallotton or even woodblock prints from Japan. Ultimately, this little etching makes me think about how artists through the ages are constantly looking and learning from each other.