Fabel van het wilde zwijn en de ezel 1567

Marcus Gheeraerts made this print, “Fable of the Wild Boar and the Donkey”, using an engraving technique. This painstaking process involves cutting lines into a metal plate with a tool called a burin. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate to create the print. Look closely and you can almost feel the textures: the bristly hair of the boar, the smooth coat of the donkey, and the rough stones of the landscape. The technique allows for incredible detail, which is a key part of the print’s appeal. Prints like this were not only art objects; they were also a means of circulating ideas and stories. The fable depicted here, with its moral lesson, would have resonated with a wide audience. Engravings were a key part of the rise of visual culture, making art accessible to a growing public and blurring the lines between craft, illustration, and fine art.