The Death of Arthur 1793

James Fittler’s “The Death of Arthur” is an engraving on paper, a medium deeply entwined with the rise of mass media. Engraving, unlike painting or sculpture, is inherently reproducible. It lends itself to widespread dissemination of images and ideas. The fine lines you see result from meticulously carving into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. It’s a labor-intensive process demanding precision and skill. The graphic quality of the lines dictates the appearance, creating dramatic contrasts of light and shadow. This aesthetic of reproducible imagery has ties to social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. In its time, images like this, which brought history to life, had a popular appeal. Fittler’s print underscores the crucial role of craft in shaping not just the visual arts, but also the dissemination of culture more broadly.