Horse at Midday (Cavallo a meriggio) c. 1885

Giovanni Fattori created this etching, "Horse at Midday", using metal plate and paper. Fattori masterfully employs the etching technique to create a scene imbued with the stillness of a midday break. The etching process involves drawing an image into a prepared ground on a metal plate, which is then immersed in acid. The acid bites into the metal where the ground has been removed, creating incised lines that hold ink. The plate is then inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Fattori's skilled manipulation of line and tone captures the texture of the horse’s coat, the rough bark of the tree, and the grassy ground. The composition, with its careful attention to light and shadow, evokes a sense of rural labor. By focusing on such quotidian scenes, Fattori elevates the everyday into a subject worthy of artistic attention. Looking closely at the materials and processes used in "Horse at Midday" helps us appreciate the artistry involved in transforming base materials into profound statements about work and rest.