Tour de Beurre, Rouen 1899

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan created this etching, "Tour de Beurre, Rouen", using a drypoint technique. The image shows the Butter Tower of Rouen Cathedral, a potent symbol of religious and political power in France. Consider the complex history of the Cathedral itself. Built over centuries, it embodies various architectural styles and periods of social upheaval, from the medieval era to the modern age. MacLaughlan's choice to depict the Butter Tower specifically is intriguing. It was financed in the 15th century by locals who paid for the privilege to consume butter during Lent. Here, religious restrictions intersected with class and economic status. The drypoint technique itself introduces another layer of meaning. The process involves directly scratching into the plate, creating a slightly blurred and textured effect which softens the tower's imposing stature. This echoes the complex, human stories interwoven with the stone and mortar. As you reflect on this image, consider how religious spaces often become stages upon which social hierarchies are enacted and challenged.