Pandy Mill, from Picturesque Selections c. 1859 - 1860

James Duffield Harding created this lithograph, "Pandy Mill, from Picturesque Selections," using a process that bridges art and industry. Lithography allowed artists to reproduce images with a consistency not achievable through manual drawing, hinting at the growing mechanization of the art world. The process involves drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treating the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This printmaking method allowed for a softer, more tonal range, mimicking the subtleties of a pencil or chalk drawing – here, emulating nature itself. Harding's choice of subject matter, the Pandy Mill, reflects an interest in picturesque landscapes and the romanticization of rural life. The mill itself, a symbol of labor and industry, is softened by the surrounding natural elements. The labor-intensive process of lithography mirrors the work performed at the mill, creating a dialogue between the means of production and the subject it depicts. By understanding the materials, making, and context, we appreciate how Harding blurred the lines between fine art and craft, inviting us to see the beauty in both.