Karel Dujardin’s etching, “Two Steers”, 1655

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

“Two Steers” (TIB title) (aka “Two Bulls”; “Les Deux Boeufs”; “Two Oxen, One Grinds its Head against a Post”), 1655, plate number 24.

Etching on fine laid paper with a small margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 17 x 21.5 cm; (plate) 14 x 18.6 cm.

Numbered in plate on the lower right corner: “24”.

State iii (of iii) with the addition of the plate number, reduction to the plate size and with loss of the artist's name.

TIB 1.24 (179) (Leonard J Slatkes [ed.] 1978, The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists, vol. 1, New York, Abaris Books, p. 194, cat. no. 24 [179]); Hollstein 23 iii (F.W.H. Hollstein 1952, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Douffet–Floris”, vol. 6, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, p. 35, cat. no. 24).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print from its second state:

“Two Bulls. Landscape with a bull in central foreground, seen in profile facing right and rubbing his neck against a wooden post, the other bull on the left is seen in three-quarter view from the rear; second state with number. 1655 Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-864).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.471382.

Condition: a well-printed but slightly pale impression with a small margin around the platemark and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this insightful study of oxen with a distant view of a farmer ploughing—in particular, note how the artist has described changes to the direction of the oxen's hair grain and suggested variations to their form with the most minimal of strokes to the silhouette edge of their backs—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 oxen, 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