The Evening Star 1877

Henri Fantin-Latour created "The Evening Star" using etching, a printmaking process that requires careful labor. A metal plate, likely copper or zinc, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines become. Once the ground is removed, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the image. Fantin-Latour repeated this process to create the many prints he produced. The materiality of etching is key here. The sharp, precise lines capture the ethereal quality of the evening star. This emphasis on process and skilled labor challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.