Hanekyllingerne 1845

Adolph Kittendorff created this print of chickens using etching, a process where acid eats into a metal plate to create an image. The fine, precise lines we see here are the result of careful work with etching tools and acid-resistant coatings. Etching, unlike a unique painting or sculpture, allowed for multiples. Prints like these circulated widely, bringing art to a broader audience and playing a role in shaping visual culture. The labor involved is different from other art forms – less about spontaneous expression, and more about technical skill and controlled reproduction. In this image, the seemingly simple scene of barnyard fowl speaks to a larger system of labor and consumption. Chickens, of course, are part of a food chain, and here, they’re depicted in a way that highlights their existence within a working landscape. Considering the materials and the making of this artwork, we can broaden our understanding of the image from a simple depiction of chickens to a reflection on production, distribution, and the everyday world.