Chacal. / Jackal. / Schakal. / Sciacal. / Jakhals 1829 - 1880

This print, titled 'Jackal', was created by the firm Joseph Scholz. It is made using chromolithography, a printing technique that allows for the production of images in color. Chromolithography was a relatively new technology in the 19th century, offering a more affordable alternative to hand-colored prints. The process involves creating a separate lithographic stone for each color, and then printing them in sequence to build up the final image. The result is a richly colored image, like the deep grays and browns of the jackal's fur. Consider the level of labor involved in creating such a print. Each color requires a separate stone to be prepared, inked, and printed, which means that skilled workers were needed to operate the machinery and manage the process. This print therefore embodies the complex relationship between artistic production, technological innovation, and industrial labor. It invites us to reflect on the social context of its creation and the hidden stories of the hands that brought it into being.