Kinderen bij het varkenskot 1835 - 1888

Jozef Israëls created this etching, ‘Kinderen bij het varkenskot,’ which translates to ‘Children by the Pigsty.’ The printmaking process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into the coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are etched into the surface. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The material quality of this print, with its stark contrasts and grainy texture, enhances the scene’s gritty realism. Israëls used a dense network of lines to create depth, but also to convey a sense of social reality. You can feel the weight of the scene through its materiality. Considering the material, the making process, and the social context encourages us to reflect on the broader implications, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.