Amputation c. 1793

Thomas Rowlandson created this print, "Amputation," sometime around 1793, using etching and hand coloring. These processes were well-established by this point, commonly used for satirical prints sold to a wide public. Consider how the physical qualities of the materials – the waxy surface of the paper, the crispness of the etched line, the vibrant watercolors – all contribute to the image’s effect. The printmaking process also influenced the subject: prints like this were rapidly produced, often commenting on contemporary social issues. Here, Rowlandson depicts a brutal scene in an operating theater, lampooning the medical profession. Note the list of surgeons on the wall, lending a veneer of respectability to the grim procedure. The very act of making a print—multiple impressions from a single matrix—speaks to the social context. It allowed Rowlandson to disseminate his critique broadly, reaching an audience far beyond the elite circles traditionally associated with "high art." This piece reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are deeply intertwined with materials, methods, and the society in which they were made.