Farm on a Hillside in Sunlight (La ferme du coteau; Effet de soleil sur le coteau) 

Alphonse Legros created this etching, "Farm on a Hillside in Sunlight," using fine lines and textural contrasts to evoke a rural scene. The composition is structured by the interplay of light and shadow. Notice how the dense, dark lines create a foreground that frames a distant, sunlit hillside. Legros uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tonal values, creating a sense of depth. The contrast between the detailed foreground and the more loosely defined background draws our eye through the landscape, while the varying densities of line suggest the changing light. Legros was deeply interested in the formal qualities of etching, where he could explore the expressive potential of line and tone. "Farm on a Hillside in Sunlight" is a study in how these elements can create a sense of place and atmosphere. It invites us to consider the way in which the artist manipulates our perception through subtle shifts in texture and light, offering a space for ongoing interpretation.