La Greve du Cesquer c. 19th century

André Dauchez created "La Greve du Cesquer" using etching, a printmaking technique with a rich history. The process begins with a metal plate, coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then draws through this ground with a pointed tool, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are "bitten," creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves. The surface is wiped clean, and the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you’ll see the delicate network of lines that define the scene. Dauchez masterfully uses this linear language to describe the textures of the rocky shore, the foliage of the tree, and the reflections on the water. The etching process, with its reliance on skilled handwork, allowed artists like Dauchez to create multiple originals, making art more accessible in a rapidly industrializing world. The act of printing, a form of reproduction, mirrors the social and economic shifts of the time, inviting us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and access.