Landscape (Un paysage) 

This print was made by Alphonse Legros, who was active in the late 19th century. It's an etching, meaning that the artist drew an image into a wax-covered metal plate, and then bathed the plate in acid. The acid bites away at the exposed metal, creating incised lines. Ink is then forced into these lines, the surface of the plate wiped clean, and the image printed onto paper. You can see Legros' hand clearly in the dense cross-hatching that defines the trees and foliage. This wasn't just a mechanical process, but a deeply considered performance. The tonal range achieved by this technique is remarkable. It really is a tour de force of what can be achieved with simple materials and techniques. The relatively humble status of printmaking allowed artists to explore subjects outside the mainstream of academic painting. Through the close examination of materials and processes, we can appreciate how Legros elevated a 'minor' art form to a level of profound expressiveness.