Karel Dujardin’s etching, “Steer and Donkey”, c1655

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

“Steer and Donkey” (TIB title) (aka “Le boeuf et l’âne”; “Ox and a Donkey”), c1655 (Rijksmuseum’s attrib. dates: 1652–1659), lifetime/first state impression before numbering.

Etching on fine laid paper (watermark Seven Provinces) trimmed around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15.8 x 18.8 cm

Inscribed in plate: (partially visible at upper right corner) “K. DV […]”

State i (of iii) before the addition of the plate number of state ii.

TIB 1.26 (179) (Leonard J Slatkes [ed.] 1978, The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists, vol. 1, New York, Abaris Books, p. 196, cat. no. 26 [180]); Hollstein 26 i (F.W.H. Hollstein 1952, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Douffet–Floris”, vol. 6, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, cat. no. 26).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“A bull and an ass, the bull standing in profile facing left, the ass standing at his rear, also facing left; first state before number Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-869).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.38330.

Condition: a well-printed impression trimmed around the image borderline and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet has two restored/closed tears at centre and a replenished wormhole. Beyond these issues there are no significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this exceptionally rare first state/lifetime impression of a superb etching for AU$236 (currently US$171.68/EUR151.77/GBP127.74 at the time of this listing) including 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 exceptionally sensitive (and accurate) rendering of an ox and an ass in strong sunlight—note how well the artist has captured the effect of light reflected from the thin hair on their backs and the reflected light from the ground on their underbellies—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