Kop van een ezel 1854

Jacobus Cornelis Gaal made this etching of an donkey's head in 1835. Given its size, the print was most likely made for an album of animal studies for artists. The image presents the donkey's head in a straightforward, unidealized manner, and is reminiscent of similar studies of working-class individuals in the 19th century. Made in the Netherlands, the print coincides with the rise of the art academy and the establishment of the modern museum system. At this time, academic artists commonly looked to the old masters to study the proper way to execute their art. The donkey, as a beast of burden, was often associated with the working class, or the peasantry. In studying its form, artists could explore the challenges and dignity of everyday life. Researching the artist's influences, the development of art academies, and the representation of animals in art could shed further light on its historical meaning.