Drie kippen en een haan 1873

Jan Gerard Smits created this work, "Drie kippen en een haan", as an etching, notable for its intricate network of fine lines and detailed texture. The composition is dominated by the interplay of light and shadow, achieved through densely layered strokes that give depth to the barn setting and volume to the figures of the fowl. Smits expertly uses hatching and cross-hatching to model form and capture subtle gradations of tone. This can be seen particularly well with the rooster which has a contrasting texture that sets it apart from the two hens perched above. The careful arrangement of lines creates a sense of rhythm and movement, bringing a quiet barnyard scene to life. It's an exploration of how texture and form are intertwined in a graphic medium. The etching is a testament to the structural potential inherent in the etching process itself.