Pluimvee 1833 - 1900

This print of fowl, *Pluimvee*, was created by Glenisson & Van Genechten using line engraving and chromolithography. These processes require the artist to plan the composition in layers, one for each color. The crispness of the engraved lines contrasts with the flat areas of color added later, influencing the appearance of the artwork. The method of chromolithography required the manual application of colors to a stone matrix, then transferred to paper using a press. This division of labor is typical of industrialized printmaking in the 19th century. The artist creates the initial design, but the actual printing would have been done by teams of skilled workers. The finished print thus embodies a tension: the naturalistic subject matter rendered with the precise, repeatable technology of industrialized image production. By understanding the means of production, we gain a deeper appreciation of the cultural context and the artist's role in this process.