Fotoreproductie van een tekening van wild zwijn dat wordt aangevallen door jachthonden before 1880

This photogravure, made by Nicholas & Co, reproduces a drawing of a wild boar being attacked by hunting dogs. Photogravure is a printing process that combines photography and etching, a process that was developed in the mid-19th century, around the same time as photography itself. The fine lines and subtle tones of this photogravure are achieved by transferring a photographic image onto a copper plate, which is then etched with acid. The varying depths of the etched areas hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. This laborious process allowed for the mass reproduction of images, bringing art and information to a wider audience, but the result is hardly mechanical. The image displays a rich range of tones and intricate details. Consider the cultural context: images like this were typically created for educational or scientific purposes, often illustrating natural history texts. At the same time, hunting was a leisure activity strongly associated with class privilege. The image therefore speaks volumes about social structures, the dissemination of knowledge, and the impact of industry on the environment.