Eendenjacht 1601 - 1650

Philips Serwouters created this print, known as "Eendenjacht", using engraving, a process demanding immense patience and precision. The image is essentially carved into a metal plate, typically copper, with a tool called a burin, then filled with ink and pressed onto paper. The material is crucial here. The hardness of the copper allows for extremely fine lines, which Serwouters uses to create an astonishing amount of detail in this small-scale print. Look closely, and you'll see the texture of the foliage, the feathers of the ducks, and the fur of the dogs rendered with remarkable accuracy. Engraving like this was not only a technical skill but also a form of labor, requiring years of training and expertise. In this image, we also witness another form of labor: hunting. The image, therefore, captures a moment in which labor is transformed into leisure or, indeed, sustenance. The work asks us to reflect on these parallel modes of human activity and their relationship to the natural world.