St. Aignan, Chartres
Medium
Etching and drypoint on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image/plate: 24.1 × 11.2 cm (9 1/2 × 4 7/16 in.); Sheet: 30.3 × 19.5 cm (11 15/16 × 7 11/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
28159
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Created in 1916 by Scottish artist David Young Cameron, “St. Aignan, Chartres” offers a finely detailed view of the historic church in the French city renowned for its Gothic architecture. Executed in etching and drypoint on ivory laid paper, the print measures just 24.1 by 11.2 centimeters for the image area, demonstrating how these intimate techniques can convey both delicate line work and rich tonal depth within a compact format. Etching and drypoint allow an artist to incise a metal plate directly, producing crisp lines and velvety textures that are especially suited to rendering the weathered stone and intricate details of centuries-old buildings. Cameron’s choice of subject reflects a long-standing artistic fascination with European architectural heritage, captured here during the midst of World War I. Now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings collection, the work invites viewers to slow down and appreciate the quiet precision of early-twentieth-century printmaking.
About the Artist
David Young Cameron · 1865–1945
Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945) was a Scottish painter and etcher who achieved international recognition primarily for his atmospheric etchings of architectural and landscape subjects. Born in Glasgow during the Victorian era, Cameron became one of Britain's most celebrated printmakers, eventually receiving a knighthood and serving in prominent positions including Trustee of the Tate Gallery a...