Stags at the Water's Edge 1850

Charles François Daubigny created this print, Stags at the Water's Edge, using etching, a process with a long history. Unlike drawing directly on paper, here the artist coated a metal plate with wax, drew into that surface with a stylus, then submerged the plate in acid. This would bite away the exposed lines, allowing them to hold ink. Think about the labor involved: the careful preparation of the plate, the controlled corrosion, and the final printing. Each stage demanded expertise, and a good deal of time. The result is a rich tapestry of dark and light, a quality intrinsic to the etching process. Look at the variations: dense, dark strokes that define the foliage, and delicate, almost ethereal lines describing the sky and water. Daubigny coaxes a full range of tones from the etched line, achieving a painterly effect despite the mechanical means of production. The print embodies a tension between art and industry, craft and mass production. This invites us to consider the changing status of art in an age of increasing mechanization, and how Daubigny found a place for individual expression within it.