Landscape, from Deuxieme Cahier de Paysage 1772

Nicolas Pérignon made this landscape scene using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. The image is produced by applying an acid-resistant coating to a metal plate, and then drawing an image into the coating with a needle. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. By repeating this process, the artist can create lines of varying depth that hold ink. Consider how the labor-intensive nature of etching lends itself to a particular kind of image. The precision and detail achievable through this method encourage a close observation of the world. The image captures a rural scene, yet it's also a product of urban craftsmanship. The artist’s skill transforms base metals into something of aesthetic value, playing with the conventional hierarchy between “high” art and craft. Thinking about materials and making helps us see the social and cultural values embedded in this seemingly simple landscape.