Pluimvee 1833 - 1900

Glenisson & Van Genechten created this print titled 'Pluimvee' using chromolithography. Without firm dating, we can still look at its mode of production, and reasonably situate this work historically. Chromolithography was a method of making color prints that became widely popular in the 19th century, allowing for mass production and dissemination of images. This piece offers insights into the cultural values and the burgeoning availability of color printing at the time. These fowl, rendered in green, red and yellow, are depicted with a folk art sensibility. One wonders about the purpose and audience for the print. The short rhyming couplets at the bottom of each image, suggest a juvenile audience, perhaps even for educational purposes. Consider how color, in this era of nascent chromolithography, would have held a certain novelty and appeal, shaping the viewer’s experience and understanding. The print invites us to reflect on the relationship between the natural world and its artistic representation, and the emotional connections we form with these images.