London from Greenwich (Liber Studiorum, part V, plate 26) 1811

This print, "London from Greenwich" was made by J.M.W. Turner, using etching and mezzotint. These are both intaglio printmaking techniques, where the image is incised into a metal plate, and then ink is applied and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Turner would have begun by etching the main outlines of the design, using acid to bite into the metal. He then developed the tonal range using mezzotint, a process that involves roughening the entire plate with a tool called a rocker, and then smoothing areas to create lighter tones. The velvety blacks and subtle gradations of light are characteristic of this labor-intensive technique, which requires immense skill and control. This print is part of Turner's "Liber Studiorum," a series intended to demonstrate the range of landscape painting. By mastering these printmaking techniques, Turner wasn't just reproducing his work, he was actively shaping its reception, and asserting the status of printmaking as a fine art.