The Butterflies 

David Young Cameron created "The Butterflies" as an etching, a printmaking process where acid is used to cut into a metal plate, here copper or zinc, to create a design. Notice how the fine lines of the etching capture the delicate details of the woman's dress and the fluttering butterflies around her. The material of the plate, its capacity to hold fine lines, dictates the level of detail we see. Etching demands careful labor, from preparing the plate to the precise timing of the acid bath. The resulting prints, like this one, could be reproduced multiple times, making art accessible to a wider audience. This links the world of fine art to the burgeoning print culture and commodity market of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. So, as you look at "The Butterflies," consider not just the image, but the entire process, which connects artistic skill with broader social and economic forces.