Stier en koeien in een rivier before 1767

Johann Ridinger made this etching of a bull and cows in a river sometime in the 18th century. The print is made by incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. The lines you see are not drawn directly, but rather the result of careful, precise labor, cutting into the metal. Look closely, and you'll notice the variation in the marks. Some are delicate, creating a sense of light and shadow, while others are bold, defining the contours of the animals. The round format gives the scene a sense of looking in on something. It reflects a time when printmaking was becoming increasingly popular as a way to reproduce images and disseminate information. This print speaks to the era's growing interest in the natural world, but also to the rise of specialized labor and the commodification of images. It reminds us that art is not just about the image, but also about the materials, the making, and the social context in which it was created.