La Nuée d'orage 1882 - 1884

Félix Bracquemond created this print, "La Nuée d'orage," using etching, a printmaking technique that requires time, skill, and labor. The process begins with a metal plate, usually copper or zinc. The etcher coats the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then draws through this ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. Next, the plate is immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This process is repeated to achieve varying depths and thicknesses of line. Finally, the plate is inked and wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines, and run through a press with a sheet of paper, transferring the image. Bracquemond's masterful manipulation of this process, combined with his attention to the scene, has imbued the artwork with a sense of atmosphere. The geese clustered in the field seem to sense the coming storm. Considering the amount of work involved, etching offers a means of democratizing images. As such, it blurs the line between fine art and more commercial forms of production.