The Day Paris Fell 1940

This print, The Day Paris Fell, was created by Leon Bibel, sometime after that event took place in 1940. It's an etching – a process that involves drawing into a prepared ground on a metal plate, then using acid to bite away the exposed lines. The character of an etching is defined by the resistance of the metal and the artist's control over the acid. Here, Bibel coaxes a range of grays from the plate. The lines are wiry, almost nervous. Look at how the cross-hatching creates a sense of depth, particularly in the shadowed areas. Given the imagery, we can imagine the corrosive acid as analogous to the destruction of war. The entire composition seems to be collapsing, in the same way that European civilization did during the Second World War. Ultimately, understanding the method by which this image was made gives us a powerful insight into its meaning.