Artwork
The Ass and the Hound
The Ass and the Hound is an ink print by the Baroque artist Allart van Everdingen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650, *The Ass and the Hound* is an etching by Dutch artist Allart van Everdingen, who was active during the Golden Age of Dutch painting and printmaking. The work presents a brief, dynamic encounter between a donkey and a hound, captured in the immediacy of a single moment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a donkey rearing on its hind legs while a dog sniffs the ground nearby, its expression poised for sudden flight. The startled facial expression of the donkey and the alert posture of the hound suggest a fleeting, perhaps humorous, observation of animal behavior.
Technique & Style
Van Everdingen employed traditional etching for the precise, crisp lines that outline the figures, while incorporating drypoint to soften edges and deepen shadows. The drypoint incisions hold ink differently, producing a velvety tonal quality that adds depth to the scene’s darker areas, a method the artist often used to heighten drama.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the body of work for which van Everdingen is noted, alongside his mezzotints and other etchings. Though specific ownership records are limited, the piece is documented in collections of Dutch Golden Age prints and has been exhibited in institutions such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Artist & collection
Artist
Allaert van Everdingen (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 18 June 1621 – 8 November 1675 (buried)), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker in etching and mezzotint.
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