Zwijn 1762 - 1804

This engraving, Zwijn, or ‘Swine’, was made by Barent de Bakker. Engraving is a printmaking technique where the design is incised on a metal plate, and the lines are then filled with ink and printed onto paper. Here, we can see how de Bakker used this method to capture the peculiar anatomy of the babiroussa, a type of wild pig native to Indonesia. The crisp, clean lines of the engraving lend a scientific quality to the image, fitting with the era’s interest in documenting and classifying the natural world. But consider the labor involved: each line meticulously carved, the tonal variations achieved through subtle gradations of marks. This intense, skilled work speaks to the value placed on detailed observation and technical mastery in the production of knowledge. Looking at this print, we are reminded that even seemingly straightforward depictions of the natural world are shaped by human labor, cultural values, and specific modes of production.