Kop van een hond met de tong uit de bek 1879

Auguste Danse made this head of a dog with its tongue lolling out in 1883, using etching. This intaglio printmaking technique involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Look closely, and you can see the delicate network of lines that define the dog's fur, its attentive eye, and the texture of its lolling tongue. The quality of the line is paramount in etching, and it would have taken Danse many hours to achieve this precision. Interestingly, etching emerged as a popular medium during the rise of industrialization. Unlike painting or sculpture, etching allowed for relatively quick reproduction and dissemination of images. While seemingly traditional, it reflects the changing dynamics of art production and consumption in the 19th century. Thinking about the processes involved—the skilled labor of the etcher, and the technologies of printing—enables us to appreciate this work as more than just a portrait of a dog, but as a product of its time.