Artwork
Two Asses
Two Asses is an ink print by the Baroque artist Karel Dujardin. It dates from 1652 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Two Asses is an early print by Dutch artist Karel Dujardin, executed in 1652. The work is an etching on laid paper, presenting a modest scene of two donkeys confined within a simple enclosure. The composition is rendered with clear, slightly rough lines that convey the animals’ weary demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a pair of donkeys standing side by side. One faces the viewer, ears alert, while the other turns away, appearing contemplative. The portrayal emphasizes the ordinary, labor‑related existence of the animals rather than any allegorical or heroic narrative.
Technique & Style
Dujardin employed traditional etching methods, incising the design into a metal plate, inking the recessed lines, and pressing the plate onto laid paper. The resulting marks are crisp yet slightly irregular, reminiscent of a pencil sketch, highlighting the artist’s skill in rendering texture and form through line work.
Context
Created in the mid‑seventeenth century, the print reflects the Dutch Golden Age’s interest in genre scenes and everyday subjects. Dujardin, known for pastoral and animal studies, often used prints to disseminate such modest depictions beyond the reach of his painted works.
Artist & collection
