Farm Cottage, from Revue Fantaisiste 1861

Rodolphe Bresdin made this print, Farm Cottage, using the process of etching. To make an etching, the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. He then draws through this ground with a needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is submerged in acid, lines are etched, or eaten, into the metal where it is exposed. After removing the ground, the plate is inked, and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. In this print, Bresdin’s use of etching is particularly attuned to labor. The density of the lines and the fineness of the detail suggest a laborious process. The scene itself depicts a humble dwelling and rural life, hinting at the hard work involved in farming and daily existence. Through his meticulous technique, Bresdin elevates the everyday, reminding us of the value and dignity of labor.