The Large Thistle, plate three from Les quatres grandes plantes 1843

"The Large Thistle, plate three from Les quatres grandes plantes," is an etching by Eugène Blery. Blery worked during a time of increased industrialization in France. Rural subjects became a focus for artists. The thistle, a plant often regarded as a weed, takes center stage here. Consider how the prickly, resilient thistle might mirror the lives of the working class who were often overlooked and undervalued during this period of rapid social change. Blery’s choice to depict the thistle with such detail and care, elevates the ordinary and asks us to reconsider our perceptions of value and beauty. The meticulous detail in the etching captures the plant’s textures, from its spiny leaves to its delicate flowers. These textures are rendered with an attention and intimacy that invites viewers to see value in what might typically be dismissed.