Gezicht op brug te Mantes-la-Jolie c. 1883

Henri-Charles Guérard created this etching of a bridge in Mantes-la-Jolie. The image is built from ink meticulously transferred from a metal plate onto paper. Guérard was clearly fascinated by the textural possibilities of the etching process. See how he has achieved varying tones by controlling the density of his marks, building up layer upon layer of lines to create areas of deep shadow, then leaving other areas almost untouched to suggest bright sunlight. This approach foregrounds the labor involved in creating the image, the patient accumulation of detail. Consider also the social context of printmaking at this time. The industrial revolution had made paper more affordable, and the etching process allowed artists to create multiple original images. Guérard’s print offered a wider audience access to art. It invites us to consider how these shifts in material production influenced both art and society.