After the Concert c. 1935 - 1940

Effim H. Sherman created this print, "After the Concert," using etching, a printmaking process dating back centuries. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground, then scratches a design into it with a pointed tool, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink transfers, creating a print with fine, delicate lines. Sherman's choice of etching is significant. It allows for a remarkable level of detail, seen in the rendering of faces, the steam from the beverages, and the textures of the clothing. Yet the style is also deliberately simplified, almost cartoonish, a reminder that even fine art techniques are always put to use in the service of social expression. The bustling café scene, filled with people of all classes, speaks to a moment in time, capturing the spirit and energy of urban life in the early 20th century.