A moody, atmospheric etching by Auguste Delâtre, featuring two silhouetted figures against a luminous moon framed by dark rock formations.

Auguste Delâtre was a central figure in the nineteenth-century etching revival in France. As both a master printer and a skilled artist, he collaborated with many of the era's most significant painters, including Charles Meryon and Jean-François Millet. His technical mastery of the copper plate allowed for a wide range of tonal effects, which is evident in this atmospheric work.

Rising Moon captures a quiet, nocturnal scene. Two figures stand in the distance, silhouetted against the glow of a full moon. The composition uses high-contrast shading to frame the subjects between two dark, rocky outcrops. This framing device draws the eye toward the centre of the print, where the light reflects off the water. Delâtre employs fine, dense cross-hatching to build the deep shadows of the foreground, while the sky and water are rendered with more delicate, horizontal lines to suggest the stillness of the night.

Unlike the more rigid academic prints of the period, this etching prioritises mood and texture. The artist uses the physical properties of the ink and the paper to create a sense of depth. The contrast between the heavy, dark masses of the rocks and the luminous, circular moon creates a clear visual hierarchy. This work demonstrates the capabilities of the etching medium to convey light and shadow without the need for colour. It remains a fine example of the period's interest in atmospheric effects and the intimate nature of printmaking as a medium for personal expression.