Sneeuwgezicht op Parijs 1856 - 1897

Henri-Charles Guérard made this etching of a snow scene in Paris sometime in the late 19th century. Look closely, and you can see how the artist has used the etching process to capture a fleeting moment. An etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy ground, then drawing through the ground to expose the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Finally, the plate is inked and printed onto paper. The material qualities of the metal plate and the acid bath allow for a fine level of detail, seen here in the delicate lines that describe the snow-covered rooftops and the dome in the distance. The etching technique, with its reliance on industrial materials and processes, democratized art production, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Guérard’s choice of this medium reflects a desire to capture the everyday realities of modern urban life, blurring the lines between fine art and the aesthetics of mass production.