Hier hebt gij, jeugd, beziet het wel, / 't vermaaklijk honde- en apenspel 1856 - 1900

This print, "Hier hebt gij, jeugd, beziet het wel, / 't vermaaklijk honde- en apenspel", was made by Glenisson & Zonen. The print is a woodcut, a relief printing process where an image is carved into a block of wood. The areas that are not to be printed are cut away, leaving the design raised on the block's surface. Ink is then applied to the surface, and the print is produced by pressing paper against the inked block. Each image, bordered and box-like, showcase men training animals like monkeys and dogs. The text below each scene describes what is happening. Woodcut is a relatively inexpensive and accessible technique, so was often used for popular imagery such as this. The very nature of the material, wood, and the carving process gives the print a bold, graphic quality. The lines are crisp and the contrast is stark. The repetition of the box-like images suggests a kind of factory production, and in this way the print reflects the wider social context of labor, politics, and consumption. The simple nature of the print belies the work and skill that went into its creation, a skill that is often overlooked when considering “high art.”