A Trip to Scarborough 1783

James Bretherton created this print titled ‘A Trip to Scarborough’ in 1786 using etching, a printmaking technique with a long history. The etching process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure using a printing press. In Bretherton’s print, we see the incisive quality of etching lending itself well to caricature. The exaggerated hats and silhouettes reflect the fashion of the time, but also the intense labor involved in keeping up with trends. Printmaking allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, democratizing art and enabling wider social commentary. In this case, Bretherton critiques the excesses of fashionable society, hinting at the labor and consumption that underpinned it. By looking at the materials and processes, we gain a deeper understanding of the artwork’s meaning and its connection to the social and economic context of its time.