OBVIOUS 

This print was made in London by John Leech, likely in the mid-19th century. Leech made his name in the satirical magazine Punch, using the relatively new technology of wood engraving to deliver sharp social commentary to a mass audience. In this example, the material properties of engraving are very much on display. The sharp, economical lines give a sense of immediacy. Look closely, and you’ll see that an incredible amount of labor went into the production of this image, cutting away the wood to leave only the printing lines in relief. These sorts of prints were a crucial component of London’s rapidly growing print culture, a consequence of industrialization and expanding literacy. It's worth remembering that what might seem like a ‘simple’ drawing today was once the product of skilled labor, as worthy of our consideration as any painting. It gives insight into the modes of production and consumption of the time.