In a Wood c. 1885

Alphonse Legros made this etching, In a Wood, using a metal plate, acid, and ink. The etching process is an indirect one. First, the metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. Then, the artist scratches an image into the ground, exposing the metal. The plate is submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Finally, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean. The ink remains only in the etched lines, ready to be printed onto paper. In this print, Legros shows a dark tangle of trees. The etching technique lends itself to a stark, linear style, which here captures the density and depth of the forest. Look closely, and you will notice the marks of the artist’s hand – the careful hatching and cross-hatching that create a sense of shadow and texture. While etching allowed for multiple reproductions, each print still required careful labor, bridging the gap between mass production and individual craftsmanship. Legros' print reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the artist’s touch remains vital.