The Camp of Stothard, Blake, Ogleby c. 1780

Thomas Stothard made this etching, "The Camp of Stothard, Blake, Ogleby" sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The etching process involves coating a metal plate with wax, then drawing through the wax to expose the metal. Immersing the plate in acid then bites away the exposed lines, allowing for highly detailed, repeatable images. The material and process have everything to do with this image. Stothard, Blake, and Ogleby all knew each other as professional printmakers. Etching and engraving were vital means of circulating images, before photography, and a trade that demanded a high level of skill. What we see here, then, is a picture of friendship among working people—a creative class, grabbing a bit of leisure time in the midst of their labors. This image reminds us that behind every artwork is a network of relationships, skills, and social circumstances. It shows how “high” art is often entangled with more workaday practices.