Calvary 

Jean-Louis Forain made this print, Calvary, using etching, a medium intimately linked to reproduction. Here, the process involves drawing with a sharp needle on a wax-coated metal plate, which is then bathed in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. Forain could then make multiple impressions of the image, each carrying the same evocative power as the original drawing. In this work, Forain uses the technique to depict a biblical scene with contemporary social awareness. Observe the stark, almost journalistic rendering of the figures, their faces etched with grief. The ladder in the background, crudely rendered, stands as a silent witness. By embracing printmaking, a technique that democratizes art, Forain invites us to reflect on the intersection of art, labor, and spirituality in an age of rapid industrial change. This piece transcends its religious subject matter, becoming a powerful statement on human suffering.