Landschap met drie koeien bij een sloot 1859 - 1890

This landscape with three cows by a ditch was created by Elias Stark, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It's an etching, which means that Stark would have used a sharp needle to draw through a waxy ground applied to a metal plate. The plate was then submerged in acid, which ate away at the exposed lines, incising them into the metal. Look closely, and you can see how the varying pressure and density of these etched lines create a range of tonal effects. The medium of printmaking lends itself to social commentary, as it allows for reproducibility and distribution of imagery to a wider audience. Interestingly, Stark has chosen a pastoral scene, seemingly far removed from the concerns of industrial labor. Yet, the very act of creating this image through a mechanical process speaks to the changing nature of work and the rise of industrial capitalism during this period. Ultimately, Stark’s etching invites us to consider the relationship between the natural world, artistic production, and the broader social context in which it was made, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commentary.