Boys Digging for Rats 1901

Timothy Cole’s small engraving presents boys and terriers united in their hunt for rats. Imagine Cole bent over his tools, his hand moving with precision to create the network of tiny marks that form this scene. There’s a fascinating contrast here, between the formal technique of engraving and the unruly subject. I bet Cole was thinking about capturing the energy and dirtiness of the hunt while keeping the graphic quality really crisp and detailed. It makes me wonder what kind of stories he wanted to tell with the light and shadows he created, and how he saw these kids. The dogs are really funny too! The artist is in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.