Twee etende varkens 1844

Charles Jacque made this etching of 'Two Eating Pigs,' using metal, acid, and ink, sometime in the 19th century. The process of etching is fascinating: the artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratched an image into that surface, exposing the metal beneath. Immersing the plate in acid would then bite away at the exposed lines, creating grooves. Finally, ink is forced into these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Notice how the etched lines give the image a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the rendering of the pigs' coarse hair and the surrounding foliage. It’s a labor-intensive process, demanding both technical skill and artistic vision. This printmaking technique allowed for the mass production of images, making art more accessible to a wider audience during a time of significant social and economic change. Considering the material and the making, the artist invites us to reflect on the realities of rural life and animal husbandry, during a time of increasing industrialization.