Océanie: Îlots à Uvea (Wallis): Pêche aux Palmes, 1845 (Oceania: Fishing, near islands with palms in the Uea or Wallis Group, 1845) 1863

Charles Meryon created this etching, titled "Oceania: Fishing, near islands with palms in the Uea or Wallis Group" in 1845. Etching is an printmaking technique that uses acid to corrode the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio. Meryon would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant material, before scratching the image into the surface. The exposed lines were then bitten by acid, creating grooves that would hold ink, which he then transferred onto paper. Here, the cross-hatched lines create subtle tonal variations in the water and sky. The meticulous lines capture the scene of figures waist-deep in the sea, fishing, while a sailing ship is anchored in the distance. Meryon's method speaks to the immense amount of labor in the production process. In understanding the full meaning of an artwork, it's important to consider the material, making, and context, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.