The Supper at Emmaus (third plate) 1910

Jean-Louis Forain made this etching, "The Supper at Emmaus (third plate)," and it’s all about the expressive power of line. I can only imagine Forain, bent over the plate, scratching with focused energy into the copper, to produce those flickering lines. They build up and create shadowy figures emerging from the darkness. See how the dense, cross-hatched lines create a dark, brooding atmosphere around the table. The table itself seems to float, and the figures almost dissolve into the background. It's not about realism but about capturing a moment of intense emotion and spiritual awakening. It’s like he’s digging for the essence of the story. The way Forain uses line reminds me of other printmakers like Rembrandt, who also used etching to explore psychological and emotional depths. What is so interesting, is that through the lines, we see how art is a conversation across time, with artists responding to and building upon each other's work. The artist embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.