L'eau (Water) 1863

This is "L'eau", or "Water", an etching by Jules Ferdinand Jacquemart. It's made using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, covered with a waxy ground. The artist then scratched an image into the ground, exposing the metal, which was then submerged in acid. This created incised lines on the plate that hold ink. Look closely, and you’ll notice the deep, rich blacks achieved through this process. The texture of the paper itself also plays a role. The final print shows the image in reverse, giving it a unique quality compared to a drawing. It is a humble scene, representing everyday labor and domestic life. Note the plainness of the objects—the wooden bucket, the earthenware pitcher, the simple cloth. Jacquemart elevates the value of the ordinary. This work reminds us that so-called fine art often depends on everyday materials and techniques, and that labor and craft is fundamental. It invites us to reconsider our own hierarchies of value, and to recognize the artfulness inherent in the simplest acts of making and living.