In Childhoods Company 1896

This poster, ‘In Childhood's Country’ by Ethel Reed, would have been made using lithography, a printing technique exploiting the fact that oil and water don't mix. First, the design would be drawn onto a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon or ink. This surface is then treated to make the image receptive to oily inks and the blank areas receptive to water. When the surface is inked, the ink adheres only to the drawn design. Finally, the image is transferred onto paper. In Reed’s time, lithography was a modern, commercial process that allowed for multiple reproductions. Note the advertised price of just $2. This was a departure from traditional, unique art objects, aligning art more closely with mass production and consumption. The bold lines, flat areas of color, and simplified forms made it ideal for the printing process, where achieving fine detail could be challenging. The poster’s aesthetic reflects the influence of Japanese prints, a popular source of inspiration for artists seeking alternatives to academic art. By embracing this method and aesthetic, Reed challenged conventional notions of what art should be and how it should be made.