Drie dode wilde zwijnen before 1860

This lithograph of three dead wild boars was made by Martinus Antonius Kuytenbrouwer Jr. The lithographic process involves drawing with a greasy crayon onto a flat stone or metal plate, then treating the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. Kuytenbrouwer Jr. would have needed considerable skill to translate the textures and volumes of the dead animals into a convincing tonal range using this method. This work offers a commentary on our relationship with the natural world. The boars are depicted as commodities, objects of the hunt. The stark rendering, made possible by the lithographic process, highlights the reduction of living beings into mere resources. We are encouraged to reflect on the labor involved in bringing these animals from forest to table. Thinking about the materials and methods used in creating this print allows us to consider questions of value, labor, and our place in the ecosystem. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and recognize the complex social context embedded within the artwork.