Jager schiet haas en boer c. 1865 - 1866

This print, titled "Jager schiet haas en boer," or "Hunter shoots hare and farmer" was created by Johannes Henderikus Morriën. It's an engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper. The linear quality of the engraving lends itself well to satire, precisely Morriën's intent here. The composition shows a hunter aiming at a hare, accidentally striking a farmer with his pitchfork. This print likely speaks to social tensions of the time, contrasting the leisure activities of the hunting class with the working lives of agricultural laborers. The artist underscores a kind of social critique. Engraving, as a reproductive technique, democratized images, making them available to a wider public. Morriën's choice of this medium suggests an ambition to reach an audience that might well sympathize with the unfortunate farmer. Ultimately, by looking closely at the materials and process behind this print, we can read it not just as a humorous scene, but as a commentary on the social dynamics of the time.