Piece 1765 - 1775

This textile was created by Bromley Hall, and its monochromatic imagery has been printed onto cotton using a method called copperplate printing. The material, cotton, once transformed through the printing process, speaks volumes about trade and taste in the 18th century. The scenes, seemingly classical, have been etched into a copper plate, then transferred onto the fabric, repeating across its surface. Consider the labor involved, from the cotton fields to the engraver's workshop, and finally to the textile factory, where the pattern would have been applied via a labor-intensive printing process. The success of copperplate printing underscores its appeal to a growing consumer class, eager for fashionable goods that evoked sophistication and global awareness. By understanding the relationship between design, production, and consumption, we gain insight into the complex cultural narratives woven into the fabric of everyday life.