Tristan and Isolde, Act II: Signal in the Night c. 1886

Henri Fantin-Latour's "Tristan and Isolde, Act II: Signal in the Night" is a powerful etching created in 1886 that captures the dramatic scene from Wagner's opera. The lone figure of Isolde stands silhouetted against the dark sky, her white garment billowing in the wind as she raises a torch, a signal to her lover Tristan. The shadowy landscape and stark contrast between light and dark create a sense of mystery and foreboding, mirroring the tragic love story of the opera. This artwork is a prime example of Fantin-Latour's expressive use of etching, a technique he mastered throughout his artistic career.