Koe in een weiland 1842

Here is a print of 'Cow in a Meadow' by Henri François Schaefels, dating to 1842. It's made with etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The network of fine lines you see, describing the volume of the animal and the landscape, comes from the artist’s hand moving freely across the plate. Look closely, and you'll see the plate's imprint around the edges, a direct trace of the process. The cow appears monumental, an effect achieved by filling the plate to full capacity. In this, Schaefels departs from the traditional subject of etching, which was mainly used for portraiture and historical imagery. This work speaks to the burgeoning interest in rural life and agricultural scenes in 19th-century art. It also reflects a growing market for affordable prints, bringing art into more homes. Ultimately, the value lies in the artist's skill, the inherent qualities of the materials, and the cultural moment it captures, challenging the divisions between fine art and craft.