Communion in the Church of Saint Medard (La communion dans l'eglise St.-Medard) 

This print, Communion in the Church of Saint Medard, was created by Alphonse Legros. The medium here is etching, a process by which lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid, and then filled with ink and printed onto paper. The key thing about etching is that it allows for a freedom of line impossible in other printmaking media. Notice the artist's hand throughout, and the marks that define space and volume. There's a real sense of immediacy, as if the artist was drawing right onto the plate. This is a long way from mass production. Although printmaking is inherently reproducible, this work feels like it is all about touch. Legros was part of a generation that rediscovered etching. He celebrated it as an alternative to the high finish of academic painting. By embracing this relatively accessible medium, Legros could find beauty in everyday scenes. He focused on the figures rather than the setting, offering an intimate glimpse into a sacred ritual. It's a reminder that even within a church, the human element takes center stage.