Meadow in Sunshine (Le pre ensoleille) 

Alphonse Legros made this etching, Meadow in Sunshine, using metal plates and acid. Etching, unlike drawing, is a chemical process. The artist covers a plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then draws through it with a needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, this bites into the lines. Ink is then applied and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched furrows. Pressed onto paper, a reversed image appears. Legros, from a working-class background, often depicted rural life with an unvarnished eye, and etching, with its basis in industrial processes, was perfect for his aesthetic. The crisp lines and tonal range he achieved, speak to the skill required to control the acid's action, which could ruin the plate if misjudged. While seemingly simple, an etching like this bridges the gap between traditional art and industrial production, highlighting the labor-intensive processes involved in creating both art and everyday objects. It challenges us to reconsider the value we place on different forms of making.