In the Bois 1897

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this print, titled "In the Bois," using a technique called drypoint. Instead of traditional etching, where acid bites into the metal, drypoint involves directly scratching lines into a copper plate with a sharp needle. See the velvety quality of the lines? That comes from the burr created as the metal is displaced. This burr holds extra ink when printed, giving a rich, almost three-dimensional effect. It’s a labor-intensive process, demanding a sure hand and meticulous attention. Drypoint suited Toulouse-Lautrec's interest in capturing fleeting moments of modern life. You get a sense of immediacy, a snapshot of leisure in the Bois de Boulogne. The material qualities of drypoint, with its capacity for both delicate detail and bold, spontaneous lines, was useful for evoking the textures of clothing and the atmosphere of the scene. Toulouse-Lautrec masterfully demonstrates how the choice of a particular method of production allows an artist to not only depict a subject but also to imbue it with social meaning.