Porte d'un ancien couvent, Rue Mirabeau, à Bourges (Doorway of an Ancient Convent, in the Rue Mirabeau, Bourges) 1851

This etching by Charles Meryon depicts a doorway of an ancient convent in Bourges. Meryon employed etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate using acid. This approach, rooted in craft, stands apart from traditional painting or sculpture. The image’s strength lies in the intricate lines, capturing the texture of the stone and wood of the convent. Etching allows for fine detail, seen here in the delicate rendering of the door's woodwork. Meryon's skill is clear in the tonal variations achieved through varying line density and depth, giving a sense of depth and age to the building. The choice of such a subject invites us to reflect on the labor involved in creating architecture. The doorway, with its handmade quality, speaks to a pre-industrial era. By focusing on the materiality and construction, Meryon elevates the status of craft, challenging the hierarchy between fine art and the everyday.