Gezicht op Nelson's Column, te Londen 1843 - 1885

This print of Nelson's Column in London, by an anonymous artist, probably dates to the 19th century. It's a humble object, made using the technique of etching. The image emerges from finely incised lines in a metal plate, which would have been inked and then pressed onto paper. This reproductive technology democratized image-making. Compared to a painting, which would be commissioned and available only to one owner, a print like this could circulate widely, bringing views of famous monuments to a much broader public. It's fascinating to think about the labor involved: the skilled hand of the etcher, of course, but also the many impressions that would have been made, and the distribution networks required to sell them. The print, therefore, is not just a representation of Nelson's Column, but a product of its time. The print's modest materiality belies its significance as a document of industrial capitalism and image dissemination.