Saint Albans Grand Steeple Chase n.d.

James Pollard made this print, Saint Albans Grand Steeple Chase, using etching and aquatint, common reproductive techniques of the day. These processes allowed for the relatively quick and efficient creation of multiple images. The etched lines would have defined the composition, while aquatint creates tonal areas through controlled acid baths. It's like a printed watercolor. This print captures a moment of elite leisure, a horse race, a spectacle that was gaining popularity amongst the British upper class. The labor involved in this image is not that of the artist, or even the jockeys. Consider, instead, the engravers, printers, and publishers who made it possible for this scene to be disseminated widely. Their skilled work helped to create a market for images like these. In Pollard’s print we see the commercialization of sport and the rise of a visual culture, fueled by new methods of production and consumption. These processes democratized images, yet also reinforced social hierarchies. After all, only the wealthy could afford the pastimes that are illustrated here.