On the Ramble, Near the Lake, from the series, Views in Central Park, New York, Part 3 1864

This print, from a series of views of Central Park in New York, was made by Louis Prang & Co. sometime between 1800 and 1950. It is a chromolithograph – a very particular kind of printmaking. In chromolithography, each color is printed from a separate stone. That meant a highly skilled worker had to prepare each of those stones, and the printer had to be equally expert. When done well, chromolithography could mimic painting almost perfectly. This made it a popular choice for mass-producing images. The technique democratized art by making it affordable and accessible to a wide audience. But chromolithography also had a social dimension: it created specialized jobs, and a culture of skill. So, while this image seems to be just a simple scene of leisure, consider the means of its making. It reminds us of the crucial role that craft and industry played in shaping our visual world.