The Raid 1910

Auguste-Louis Lepère made "The Raid" at some point in his career, using engraving techniques, and the whole scene feels like a chase through the night. The dense hatching creates the depth of field. It is a process of layering lines, almost like building a dark wall. Look at how Lepère uses this hatching to create texture and movement. See that figure in the lower left, leaning out the window? The lines are so fine, yet they convey a sense of desperation, of reaching out, as the figure tries to escape whatever drama is unfolding. The cobblestones underfoot are rendered with a scrubbier, more chaotic mark-making, which is in contrast with the very linear architectural components of the building, like a city coming apart at the seams. The scene brings to mind some of Goya's more frenetic etchings. Both artists share a knack for capturing the raw energy of human experience. In the end, it's these layers of marks that build not just an image, but a story, a mood, a whole world.