In the Forest (Lisiere de foret) 

Alphonse Legros made this etching, "In the Forest", using a metal plate, acid, and ink. Etching is an indirect process, where the artist draws through a protective layer of wax to expose the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The plate is then inked and printed, transferring the image to paper. Note the thousands of tiny, precise lines. Legros carefully controlled the depth and density of these lines to create areas of light and shadow. The way the ink sits on the paper gives the image its texture. The lines create a sense of depth and atmosphere, immersing us in this forest scene. Etching requires a high degree of technical skill. In Legros’s time, it was seen as a craft, distinct from painting or sculpture. But this beautiful print shows how such “humble” processes can achieve great artistic heights. By emphasizing the labor and skill involved, we can appreciate the true value of this work.