St. Nectaire 1893

Joseph Pennell made this print, St. Nectaire, using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive power of acid. The process begins by coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and producing a print. Pennell was fascinated by urban and industrial scenes, but here he turned his attention to the French countryside. In etching, the line becomes paramount, and the artist’s hand is ever-present. Despite its reproducibility, the etching retains an intimacy often associated with drawing.