Gezicht op de Rue de la Banque 1878

Alfred Taiée made this etching of the Rue de la Banque in Paris using metal plate and acid. The acid would have bitten into the metal where the artist scratched away at a waxy, protective ground, allowing him to create exquisitely fine lines. Etchings like this one played an important role in the 19th century. It was a period defined by both burgeoning industry and nostalgia for pre-industrial craft, and etching falls somewhere in between. It allowed for multiple impressions of an image to be made quickly and cheaply. It was a popular way to disseminate artworks before photography became widespread. But etching also allowed the artist to indulge in the sensitivity of hand-made mark making, as you can see in the delicate lines of the bare tree reaching up into the sky. The contrast between industry and nature, and the desire to find beauty in both, is central to understanding the cultural significance of this work.