Blacksmith (Le forgeron) 

Alphonse Legros created this intaglio print titled "Blacksmith" – or "Le Forgeron" - during a period when industrialization was transforming labor. Legros’s image of the blacksmith is thus imbued with a sense of the traditional ways of life. His art often expressed empathy for the working class, depicting them with a solemn dignity. In this work the face and body of the blacksmith is etched with such detail that it suggests the weight and labor of the man's life. This portrayal invites us to reflect on the role of labor in shaping identity and the emotional toll of physical work, while also asking us to remember those whose contributions are often overlooked in the grand narratives of progress. The print prompts us to consider how we value different forms of labor and the human cost of industrial advancement.