Bank-Notes, Paper-Money c. 1797

This hand-colored etching was made in 1797 by James Gillray, and printed on paper. The piece comments on the economic turmoil of the late 1790s in England, as Prime Minister William Pitt extracts funds from John Bull to supposedly defend the country from the French. The printmaking process itself—etching and engraving—is key to understanding Gillray’s work. These techniques, involving the careful layering of lines on a metal plate, made possible the mass production of satirical images for a wide audience. The materiality of the paper, and the labor involved in printing, reflect the social and political anxieties of the time. The figures, rendered with grotesque exaggeration, are not just characters but symbols of a society grappling with economic instability and the rise of paper money. Gillray's skilled manipulation of the printmaking process, combined with his sharp social commentary, elevate this work beyond mere caricature, challenging the traditional hierarchies of art and craft.