Het nuttig rund, het morsig zwijn, / Doet veler hand bedrijvig zijn 1848 - 1881

This print, made by Lutkie & Cranenburg, presents a grid of twelve scenes, each depicting a stage in the lifecycle of livestock, from pasture to plate. The rhythmic composition is immediately striking, as is the limited, yet deliberate, use of color. Blue and yellow function almost as structural elements, highlighting key forms and spaces within each vignette. These colors create a semiotic system that emphasizes the utilitarian aspect of the animals. The scenes are neatly arranged, leading the eye sequentially through the processes. This organized layout reflects a broader cultural preoccupation with systematization and categorization, echoing the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and order. Consider the stark contrast between the open, pastoral scenes and the enclosed, industrial ones. This juxtaposition underscores the changing relationship between humans and animals, as agrarian practices give way to more controlled, mechanized systems. The simplicity of line and color, combined with the grid format, strips away any romantic notions of rural life, presenting instead a matter-of-fact view of production and consumption. It invites us to reflect on the structures that govern our relationship with the natural world.