Paard met halster 1811 - 1867

Christiaan Wilhelmus Moorrees created this print of a horse with a halter at an unknown date using etching. The etching process has imbued the artwork with a remarkable sense of texture and detail. The lines that define the horse's musculature, the rough brickwork, and the foliage all display the fine control Moorrees had over this method. Etching involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are etched into the surface. This intaglio technique allowed Moorrees to achieve a level of intricacy that would be difficult to replicate in other printmaking methods. The labor-intensive nature of etching highlights the value placed on skilled craftsmanship during Moorrees’s time. The marks of the artist’s hand are evident, underscoring the connection between the artist, the process, and the final work. Considering materials, making, and context enriches our understanding, dissolving traditional boundaries between fine art and craft.