"But surely, Mr. Shakespeare, two heads is better than one" 

Will Dyson created this etching, “But surely, Mr. Shakespeare, two heads is better than one,” using a painstaking process of scratching lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The density of these lines dictates the image’s tonal range, from the deep shadows of the studio, to the radiant aura surrounding Shakespeare himself. Look closely, and you’ll notice the cross-hatching used to build up the darker areas. This is achieved through careful labor, requiring a steady hand and acute attention to detail. The print reflects the world of early 20th-century mass media, when etching and other printmaking techniques were used extensively for illustration and political cartoons. Dyson's choice of the medium connects the artwork to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Ultimately, understanding the labor-intensive process behind this print enriches our appreciation, reminding us of the craft involved in translating an idea into a tangible image.