Adieu aux Karpatz 1857

This print, *Adieu aux Karpatz*, was created by Félix Bracquemond. We don't have an exact date for the work, but Bracquemond was active in the mid- to late-19th century. He was a key figure in the revival of etching, which is a printmaking technique that depends on acid. To create this work, Bracquemond would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, and then scratched away lines, to expose the metal. When the plate was submerged in acid, those lines would bite into the surface. The deeper the bite, the more ink the plate would hold. The image, then, is built up from countless tiny marks. This particular print rewards close looking. Notice the incredible detail in the rock formations, and the atmospheric rendering of light. Bracquemond was fascinated by the craft of printmaking, and used it as a vehicle for his imagination. This approach reminds us that art is always rooted in material and process, and that so-called "fine art" has deep connections to the world of craft.