Rund drinkend bij fontein 1807

Frédéric Théodore Faber created this print, ‘Cattle Drinking at a Fountain,’ using etching, a printmaking technique. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, drawing into this coating to expose the metal, and then immersing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, and the ink wiped away, remaining only in the etched lines. This is a labor-intensive process, demanding precision and skill, and each print pulled is a direct result of the manual process of the artist. The social context here is pastoral. Faber depicts not a heroic landscape but a quotidian scene of labor. The quality of line created through etching lends itself well to depicting texture—the rough stone of the fountain, the shaggy coats of the sheep, and the worn surface of the cart. Faber has created an image which is accessible and relatable, documenting the routines of rural life and the symbiotic relationship between humans, animals, and the land. By emphasizing process and material, we recognize the artistic labor involved, elevating this image beyond a simple scene.