La locomotive 1873

Félix Bracquemond created this print, La locomotive, using etching, a process that involves using acid to cut lines into a metal plate. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Bracquemond was deeply involved in the etching revival in France. Etching was a traditional technique used to reproduce paintings, but was being revived by artists as an original art form. The image’s atmospheric effects and the locomotive's dynamic presence come from the artist's skilled manipulation of line and tone. This industrial subject matter reflects the changing social landscape of the time, as industrialization transformed labor, and the environment. The swirling sky adds drama to the scene, and the composition draws our eye to the locomotive, a symbol of progress. By valuing the craft of printmaking, Bracquemond elevated a medium often seen as secondary to painting, reminding us of the rich potential found in the materials and processes of art.