'W.H. Drayton Esqr. Member of Congress' 1783

This print, 'W.H. Drayton Esqr. Member of Congress', was made by B.B.E. using engraving techniques. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a plate, likely copper in this case. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into the metal, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then inked, the surface wiped clean, and the print made by pressing paper against the plate. Consider the labor involved in this meticulous process; the time it takes to hand-engrave such detail. This print isn't just an image; it's a record of skilled craftsmanship, and the cultural value placed on portraiture in the 18th century. The print was published in London in 1783. The social context of early America, as understood from abroad, is crucial for interpreting the image; and we can also consider the relationship between the artist, the publisher, and the sitter, W.H. Drayton himself, to ask wider questions about labor and status.