Profile of Eva Gonzalès turned to the left 1865 - 1875

This is Edouard Manet's "Profile of Eva Gonzalès turned to the left," an etching on paper. Manet made this print using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, covering it with a waxy ground and then drawing through the ground with a needle to expose the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating the image we see. The ink sits in the etched lines, and is then transferred to paper under high pressure to create the print. Etching allowed artists to achieve a fluid and spontaneous line, mimicking the effect of drawing. It also allowed for multiples to be made. This was crucial to the democratization of art, enabling wider audiences to access images and ideas. The labor involved in producing an etching is considerable, requiring skill in drawing, chemistry, and printing. But the result is an artwork with a unique textural quality, bearing witness to the artist's hand.