Ein im Wasser stehender Ochse wird von zwei Hunden, die ein Junge an der Leine hat, angebellt 

Bernhard Heinrich Thier made this etching of an ox being barked at by dogs sometime in the 18th century. The etching process, of course, involves the labour-intensive coating of a metal plate, incising a design with a fine needle, and then repeated submersions in acid, biting the lines ever deeper. The grey lines that define this composition are rendered in astonishing detail, all the more impressive when you consider the number of steps involved. The atmospheric depth, achieved with subtle gradations of tone, is particularly striking. You can almost feel the damp air of the pasture. But it's more than just a technical showpiece. Consider the social context. Thier’s etching captures a moment of rural life, where labor and animal husbandry intertwine. Each line etched into the metal plate is a testament to the artist’s labor, mirroring the labor of the boy herding dogs, and the work of the ox. It’s a pastoral scene, yes, but also a reminder of the processes that sustain society.