Hyde Park Near Crosvenor Gate, plate sixteen from Original Views of London as It Is 1842

This is plate sixteen from Original Views of London as It Is, made by Thomas Shotter Boys using lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the artist’s skill on the drawing stone, and the printer’s skill in pulling the print. Lithography, as a reproductive medium, was integral to shaping perceptions of London in the 19th century. Boys was one of the best, and this print exemplifies his mastery. Think about the materials: the artist used a greasy crayon on a flat slab of limestone; water adheres to the bare stone and is repelled by the crayon, allowing ink to stick only where the crayon has marked the surface. The stone is then pressed to paper, transferring the image. Boys then added watercolor washes to complete the print. The result is a vibrant scene of social life in Hyde Park, with careful attention to the fashions of the day, and the architecture around Grosvenor Gate. Boys created the drawing, but skilled printers would have been responsible for the edition. This print shows how "fine art" like painting relied on commercial processes. Without the development of techniques of reproduction, we wouldn't have this window into a specific time and place.