Souvenir of Tuscany c. 1845

This is Souvenir of Tuscany by Camille Corot, an etching on paper. Look closely, and you'll see how the image is built up from a dense network of lines. These lines weren't drawn directly onto the paper, but incised into a metal plate. The plate would have been covered in ink, which is then carefully wiped away, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The printmaker would then press the plate onto paper, transferring the image. Corot was a master of capturing light and atmosphere, and the etching process perfectly suited his aesthetic. The fineness of the lines allows for delicate gradations of tone, creating a sense of depth and space. But it also involves a great deal of labor, and is a highly skilled craft, reliant on the printmaker’s dexterity and control. By attending to the material and processes of printmaking, we can begin to appreciate the full artistry of Corot's vision, seeing it not just as a picture, but as a physical object imbued with cultural and social significance.