Near Bettws y Coed, N. Wales, from Picturesque Selections 1860

This artwork was made by James Duffield Harding, capturing a scene near Bettws y Coed in North Wales. It's a lithograph, meaning it was printed from a stone surface. The use of lithography is crucial here. Instead of traditional etching or engraving, where an artist laboriously carves into metal, lithography allows for a more direct translation of the artist’s hand. Harding could draw on the stone with a greasy crayon, and the printing process would capture the nuances of his marks. It’s a relatively quick method, which made it perfect for producing picturesque views for a growing market of tourists eager to consume images of the British countryside. The lithograph would have been part of a larger publication, cheaply made and widely distributed. This speaks to the changing relationship between art, labor, and consumption in the 19th century. Ultimately, understanding the "how" of this image – its lithographic nature – helps us grasp its intended audience and the broader social context in which it was made. It bridges the gap between ‘high art’ and the commercial world.