Bohemien Encampment (Campement de bohemiens) 

Alphonse Legros created this print, using etching, a process that democratized art making in the 19th century. The image is made by drawing with a sharp needle on a coated metal plate, which is then bathed in acid, biting away the exposed lines. It's a delicate process, where control of time determines the depth and darkness of the lines. Ink is then applied and wiped, settling into the etched grooves, and finally pressed onto paper. Look at how the etched lines define the contours of the figures and their garments. The shading suggests the weight of the draped cloth. The coarseness of the lines describing the figures might reflect the working conditions, poverty, and manual labor that defined their lives. Legros elevated printmaking beyond mere reproduction, and recognized etching as a critical medium for artists to explore social themes, bridging the gap between high art and craft.