In the Park at Versailles 1909

This etching, *In the Park at Versailles*, was made by Jean-Louis Forain sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Look at how the whole scene is conjured with such delicate and airy strokes of the etching needle. I imagine Forain outside, squinting at the scene, his hand moving swiftly to capture the essence of the park—the formal architecture on the left, the wilder trees to the right. Notice the contrast between the solid lines of the architecture and the feathery, almost chaotic lines of the trees. It’s like a visual metaphor for the tension between order and nature, control and freedom. The wispy lines of the trees remind me of the fleeting, ephemeral quality of life itself. The architecture— a monument to the controlling hand of humankind. It's as if Forain is in conversation with painters like Monet and Pissarro, but he’s bringing his own unique sensibility to the table. Artists borrow, steal, and riff off one another and by doing so, keep painting alive. This scene is so light it could float away, changing with the next breeze!