Woman Sewing c. 19th century

Charles Yardley Turner made this etching, "Woman Sewing," using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc, and acid. The artist would have applied a waxy ground to the plate, then scratched an image into it with a needle, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid then bites away at the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Notice how the varying line depths create a range of tones, from the deep shadows to the delicate light on the woman's dress. The act of sewing itself speaks to labor, textiles, and the domestic sphere, all closely associated with women's work in the 19th century. Etching, like sewing, is a process of meticulous mark-making. Understanding the labor involved in both making the print and the subject's sewing helps us appreciate the artwork's social context. It challenges us to consider the value of both artistic and domestic labor, moving beyond conventional art historical boundaries.