The Wharf at Trouville c. 19th century

Editor: This is Félix Hilaire Buhot's "The Wharf at Trouville." It's giving me a real industrial feel, with the steamship depicted so prominently. What strikes you about this print? Curator: I'm drawn to the etching process itself. Think about the labor involved: Buhot meticulously biting the plate with acid to create these lines. It speaks to the rise of industrialization and the means of representing it. Notice how that materiality affects our understanding of the scene. Editor: That's interesting. So, the process itself becomes part of the story? Curator: Exactly! The printmaking highlights the social context of production, not just the image. We must ask, how did labor shape this image and the world it depicts? Editor: I never thought of it that way! It really does add another layer to my understanding.