IJzergieter 1875 - 1925

Herman Heijenbrock rendered "IJzergieter" - Dutch for Iron Founder - using lithography, a printmaking technique that relies on the chemical repulsion between oil and water. Heijenbrock’s choice of lithography is interesting here, given the subject matter. The process is itself reliant on the extraction and refinement of minerals, just like iron founding. Note the careful depiction of the worker’s stance, the heavy tools, and the evident heat of the molten metal. The artist clearly wants us to consider the sheer labor involved in industrial production. Heijenbrock was deeply interested in the social conditions of labor, and he often depicted workers in industrial settings with great empathy. By foregrounding the physical effort and skill required in iron founding, the image invites us to consider the human cost of industrial progress. It challenges conventional art historical notions of fine art by drawing our attention to everyday labor and the artistry inherent in craft.