Au Paradis des Enfants 1893

Joseph Pennell created this etching, *Au Paradis des Enfants,* using a metal plate, likely copper, and a mordant to bite into the surface, defining its image. Pennell was a master printmaker, and you can see in the crispness of line that he knew his craft intimately. He was also interested in modern life, and the ways in which the industrial revolution was changing it. Note the informal scene he depicts here: an open-air cafe, populated by people enjoying their leisure time. It’s a candid moment, deftly captured. The technique of etching itself reflects the changing world of production. While demanding skill, it allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making art more accessible, and connecting it to the burgeoning culture of mass media. Pennell was at the forefront of artists who saw the potential in this, bringing a keen eye to scenes of everyday life. His work asks us to consider the intersection of labor, leisure, and artistic production itself.