An exemplary impression of the technique Bernard Childs’ developed at Atelier 17 in Paris, “Mercure” showcases the artist’s ability to coax delicate texture from the plate with the use of power tools. The word “mercure” suggests a temperamental state in which both chaos and order reside; in this engraving, the two elements exist in harmony, as plumes of oceanic colors softly envelop the whirling, staccato energy of Childs’ lines and dots. An embossed form is caught in the eye of the storm, floating, waiting to be carried to its next destination.