Sunrise 1850

Charles François Daubigny made this print, Sunrise, using etching, a process with a long history. A metal plate is coated in wax, and the artist scratches an image through the wax, exposing the metal. Then, the plate is submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The character of those etched lines gives the print its particular quality, from the delicate horizon line to the tangled thicket of trees. The linear work also models the scene's tonal qualities and the atmosphere's feeling. Consider the subtle, repeated work and the skilled hand that went into creating this rich impression. Printing processes like etching were, of course, essential to the industrial revolution, allowing for mass production and dissemination of images. But here, we see it used for more subtle purposes, with the hand of the artist very much in evidence. Hopefully, looking closely at this print has blurred the boundaries between industrial production and fine art for you.