Peuplier plante par Thomas Paine and Le Pont des Sauvages, Point-Breeze 1826

Charlotte Bonaparte made this print, ‘Peuplier plante par Thomas Paine and Le Pont des Sauvages, Point-Breeze,’ using etching, a printmaking technique that utilizes the corrosive power of acid to create delicate, linear designs on a metal plate. The process begins with coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratches the design into the ground, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are etched into the metal. This is a labor-intensive process requiring a high degree of skill, patience, and precision, qualities often undervalued. The fine lines capture the tranquil scenes, and the artist's choice of etching underscores her refined artistic sensibilities. By embracing the traditional technique of etching, Bonaparte connects herself to a history of skilled artisanship. It's a quiet yet potent claim of creative agency.