A Sphere, Projecting Against a Plane 1792

Here we see James Gillray's early nineteenth-century print, made with etching and engraving. Look closely and you'll see that the linear quality gives it a decidedly graphic feel. Gillray was a master of caricature, using his skills to create biting social commentary. In this print, he presents us with a geometric study, but with a twist. A corpulent woman stands in for the sphere, perched precariously on a wheeled platform. The plane is represented by a slender gentleman, his nose tilted upwards in disdain. The contrast between the figures is striking, but it's the making that really brings the point home. Gillray's etching technique, with its fine lines and cross-hatching, allows for detailed rendering of textures and volumes. The sheer labor involved in creating such a print underscores the excess represented by the "sphere" and the rigidity of the "plane". Ultimately, Gillray challenges us to consider the relationship between form and content, and the social implications embedded within artistic representation.