"Sidstille hos din røde ko", titelblad til Chr. Winthus "Træsnit" 1828 - 1887

Johan Frederik Rosenstand crafted this title page for Christian Winther's "Woodcuts", using wood engraving, a technique demanding patience and precision. Imagine the artist meticulously carving into the end grain of a block of wood, removing slivers to create a design that would then be inked and printed. The density of the wood allows for fine detail, visible in the delicate rendering of the figures and the rural scene. The process is labor-intensive, a testament to the value placed on handcraft in the 19th century. Wood engraving had become a popular method for illustrations at the time, due to its ability to produce images that could be integrated with text and printed on a printing press. It brought art to a broader public, connecting with a growing readership. The print depicts an everyday scene of agricultural labor, with the cow as the central element in the production of resources. Considering the labor and the social context enriches our understanding of this print, blurring boundaries between art, craft, and the realities of 19th-century life.