Women and Children Crossing the Street c. 1925

Mary E. Fife made this print of women and children crossing the street using etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid. Fife would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratched away the coating with a pointed tool to expose the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. After removing the coating, ink was applied to the plate, filling the grooves. The surface was wiped clean, and the print was made by pressing paper against the plate. Notice the intricate lines that define the figures and their clothing, as well as the surrounding architecture. The etched lines create a sense of depth and texture, capturing the weight of the figures, and the subtle nuances of light and shadow. Fife's choice of etching, a traditional printmaking method, speaks to the enduring appeal of handmade processes in an era of increasing industrialization. By highlighting the labor-intensive process of etching, Fife elevates the status of craft and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and everyday life.