View Taken at Bas-Meudon 1952

Charles François Daubigny made this print, *View Taken at Bas-Meudon*, using etching, a process with a long history tied to both fine art and industrial production. The appeal of etching lies in the graphic precision and tonal range it can achieve. A metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and the artist draws through this ground with a needle, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are “bitten,” creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, wiped off the surface, and the print is made by pressing paper against the plate, transferring the ink from the etched lines to the paper. Looking closely, you can see how the character of the lines varies, some are delicate, others bold, creating a rich tapestry of light and shadow. Daubigny’s skill in etching allowed him to capture the subtleties of the landscape, while also hinting at the labor and skill involved in the printing process. The image invites us to reflect on the intersection of art, craft, and the industrialized reproduction of images in the 19th century.