Twee aanzichten van een houten beeld van een rat en een Japans masker 1873

Philippe Burty made this etching, titled 'Two Views of a Wooden Sculpture of a Rat and a Japanese Mask', in 1873. It invites us to consider the contemporary fascination with Japanese art and culture in late 19th-century France. Burty was not only an artist, but also an influential art critic. He coined the term "Japonisme" to describe the popularity of Japanese art and design in Europe at this time. This print reflects that interest, depicting both a Japanese mask and a carving of a rat – perhaps a nod to the zodiac. The etching medium itself, with its delicate lines and tonal subtleties, allowed Burty to capture the textures and details of the objects. This print provides a window into the artistic and intellectual climate of the time, and the way it looked to the art of other cultures. To understand this print better, we can investigate the history of Japonisme, the art market of 19th-century France, and Burty's own writings on art. Art is always embedded in a web of social and institutional relations that a good historian will want to explore.