Vier koeien in een weide 1869

This print of four cows in a meadow, was made by William Unger around 1869. It is an etching, meaning that the image was first scratched into a metal plate, and then acid was used to bite the lines into the metal. What I find most fascinating about etching is the artist’s direct engagement with the material. Look closely, and you can see Unger's hand in the varying depths and thicknesses of the lines, which create shadows and textures to bring the scene to life. The etched lines give a sense of the landscape as a working environment. In the 19th century, the rise of industrial agriculture changed the relationship between humans, animals, and land. This idyllic scene of cows at rest belies the labor and consumption bound up in milk and meat production. It invites us to consider the social context of agricultural practices, reflecting the evolving role of animals in society, and how modes of production influence art.