Mistake and No Mistake, A Scene at Shanklin, Isle of Wight 1834

This lithograph, "Mistake and No Mistake," was made by John Doyle, around the mid-19th century. Lithography is a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion between oil and water. An image is drawn on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treated with acid. When the surface is inked, the ink adheres only to the drawn areas, which are then printed onto paper. Here, the lithographic technique lends itself well to satire. The crisp lines and subtle gradations of tone allow for detailed characterizations and social commentary. The artist uses the inherent qualities of the medium to capture the nuances of facial expressions and body language, emphasizing the humor of the scene. Prints like this were relatively accessible at the time, making social satire available to a broad audience. Doyle's work reflects the growing commercialization of art, as printmaking enabled wider distribution and consumption of images, even if the labor was still skilled and painstaking.