Man with a Punt, Figure to the Right (Pecheurs des truites) 

Alphonse Legros made this etching, "Man with a Punt, Figure to the Right," using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, and acid. It's an indirect process. The artist protects areas of the plate with a waxy ground, then scratches away lines to expose the metal. When the plate is dipped in acid, these lines are etched, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then inked, wiped clean, and pressed against paper, transferring the image. Look closely at the density of lines defining the trees and the water. The material properties of the metal, the biting action of the acid, and the pressure of the printing press all influence the final image. Etching was particularly well-suited to Legros's artistic vision, allowing for the creation of multiple originals. The process democratized image production, making art accessible to a wider audience. It highlights how printmaking, as both a craft and a means of reproduction, blurs the line between original artwork and mass-produced commodity.