Traveler taking Shelter (Le voyageur a l'abri) 

Alphonse Legros made this etching, *Traveler taking Shelter*, using metal plate and acid. The image emerges from the intimate, tactile process of etching, where lines are bitten into the metal by acid. The density of these lines speaks volumes. Notice how Legros uses a flurry of strokes to depict the downpour, the wild grass, and the rough bark of the tree. The traveler's coat is rendered with deep, unwavering lines, contrasting with the sparse strokes that suggest the figure's face, hidden in shadow. The act of etching, with its reliance on craft and skill, elevates the humble subject of the traveler, the simple man taking refuge from the storm. Legros’s work reminds us that even in the face of harsh realities, the dignity of labor and the human spirit endures. It’s a testament to the power of printmaking to democratize art, and elevate everyday life.