Het kattenclavichord

This satirical engraving was made by Hans Kellerthaler around the turn of the 17th century using the intaglio process. It's a technically accomplished print, where the lines are etched into a metal plate, likely copper, with careful precision. The fine hatching gives volume and depth to this bizarre scene of animal cruelty. A group of figures, some of whom seem to be jesters and monks, are gathered around a peculiar instrument. The Kattenclavichord, or cat organ, is a contraption where the tails of cats are attached to keys, so that their yelps produce a disturbing melody. What does this elaborate, cruel scene tell us about early modern society? It speaks volumes about the culture of entertainment, where even animal suffering could be a spectacle. The labor of the engraver in creating this work, contrasts with the torture taking place. Kellerthaler's print reminds us that the way something is made – both the physical object and the social context in which it appears – is essential to its meaning.