Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the Door of M. Richard (St. Pierre et St. Paul a la porte de M. Richard 

Alphonse Legros made this etching, Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the Door of M. Richard, using a metal plate and strong acids to bite lines into the surface. Legros then applies ink to the plate, and wipes away the excess, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Then, with the application of immense pressure, he transfers the image to paper. The stark contrast between the figures and the background is a direct result of this labor-intensive process. The etching technique allows for incredibly fine detail, capturing the texture of the stonework, the worn fabrics of the saints' robes, and the solemn expressions on their faces. Legros was deeply engaged with social realism, portraying the lives of ordinary people with empathy. Here, the choice of etching as a medium, traditionally associated with printmaking, underscores the work's accessibility, making it available to a wider audience beyond the realm of traditional painting. The print becomes a potent means of social commentary, blurring the lines between fine art and the graphic arts.