Event handkerchief 1808 - 1818

This cotton handkerchief was made by Rymer & Son using textile printing. Printed textiles like this reflect the rise of industrial capitalism. In this period, new mechanized printing processes meant images could be quickly and cheaply transferred onto textiles. What was once a labor-intensive craft became an industrial process. In the design we see a portrait of King George III. It’s framed by a spiral timeline of events and portraits of notable figures within an ornamental border. Consider the contrast between the King and his royal accoutrements, and the handkerchief itself. The ease with which images could be produced democratized visual culture. While the image evokes notions of authority, the cheapness of its production created a different reality. This handkerchief operates in a visual economy where tradition and mass production intertwine, challenging notions of value and artistic expression. It shows us how the expansion of consumer culture was entwined with social hierarchy and political power.