Le Biarotte 1929

Paul-Albert Besnard made this print called Le Biarotte, using etching. Look at the way Besnard uses line here. It’s not just about contour; it’s about creating tone, mood, and shadow. It’s a process of building up the image, bit by bit, scratch by scratch. See the way the lines swarm and gather in the dark areas, like around her chair? That's the kind of mark making that creates an atmosphere, a feeling, more than just describing what’s there. It’s kind of romantic, but also a little unsettling. The density of these lines almost hides her completely, and contrasts with the sparse lines of her dress. You could maybe think about the prints of someone like Whistler, who had a similar sense of the poetic possibilities of etching. What they both share is that art isn’t about answers; it’s about posing interesting questions.