Karel Dujardin’s etching, “Two Horses and a Plough”, 1657

Karel Dujardin (aka Karel Du Jardin; Carel Dujardin; Carel du Jardin; Bokkebaart) (1626–1678)

Two Horses and a Plough (Lex deux chevaux près de la charrue [Bartsch title]), 1657, plate 25.

Etching on laid paper trimmed around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15.6 x 18.6 cm; (image borderline) 15.3 x 18.4 cm.

State ii (of iii) with the addition of the plate number but before the reduction to the height size of the plate to 13.9 cm and the loss of the artist’s name and date (see BM state iii impression: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-868).

Inscribed on plate: (upper left) “[ligature monogram] KD fec 1657”; (lower right corner) “25”.

TIB 25-1 (179) (Leonard J Slatkes [ed.] 1978, The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists, vol. 1, New York, Abaris Books, p. 195, cat. no. 251-1 [179]); Hollstein 25ii

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Two horses near a plough. Landscape with a horse seen from the rear standing in front of a plough at left, another horse standing with head lowered to graze, seen almost in profile to right, a mountain in background; second state with number. 1657”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-867).

Condition: a strong impression trimmed along the platemark and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet has a few scuff marks in the sky above the right horse and there are thin spots (visible only when held to the light), otherwise the impression is in a good condition with no tears, holes, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this very beautiful etching showing not only two horses and a plough in a field, but also a marvellously true representation of open space and the silvery raking light of early morning, for the total cost of AU$251 (currently US$194.47/EUR160.97/GBP140.11 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this fascinating portrayal of mid-1600s farming practices—note for instance the bangtail trimming of the right horse’s tail and the mud-knot holding the left horse’s tail out of the way when pulling what seems to my untrained eye to be a heavy (medieval style?) plough—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold