Stier die zich krabt aan een boomstam 1810

"Stier die zich krabt aan een boomstam" is an etching by Dutch artist Wouter Johannes van Troostwijk, created in 1810, just months before his death. The print, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts two bulls in a landscape, one standing and scratching itself against a tree trunk, the other resting on the ground. The detailed depiction of the animals and their natural surroundings reflects van Troostwijk's interest in realistic animal studies, a popular genre in 19th-century Dutch art. This small-scale work, measuring just 170mm by 195mm, showcases van Troostwijk's talent for capturing the subtle details of animal anatomy and behavior.