L'Eau Forte en 1880

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 318 mm x breedte 238 mm

Art Historical Context

François Nicolas Chifflart’s 1880 etching “L’Eau Forte en 1880” celebrates the printmaking medium itself. The French title translates as “Etching in 1880,” suggesting the work may serve as both example and tribute to the technique at a moment when etching enjoyed renewed popularity among artists and collectors. Etching allows an artist to draw freely with a needle on a wax-covered metal plate before acid bites the exposed lines, producing the crisp detail and rich tonal range visible here. Measuring 318 by 238 mm, the print’s intimate scale invites close inspection of its fine lines and textu...