Twee paarden en honden in een stal 1849

Wouter Verschuur made this print of horses and dogs in a stable, using a technique that renders every detail visible. The printmaking process, likely etching or engraving, demanded meticulous labor. The artist would have used specialized tools to incise lines into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you will see the fine web of lines that build up the image. This wasn’t just about replicating an image, but about a whole culture of skilled work. The material of the print itself – paper, ink, and metal – speaks to a world increasingly shaped by industry and trade. The ability to reproduce images, like this scene of working animals, highlights the changing relationship between humans, animals, and labor in the 19th century. The value lies not only in the final image but also in the process itself.