Royal Guard, Norman Mounted Dragoon and Horse, No. 5, First Limoges Horse c. 1818

This print of a mounted dragoon, by Carle Vernet, belongs to a series depicting the Royal Guard. It's made using a technique called etching, where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked and printed. The material properties of metal enable the finest detail, ideal for capturing the Dragoon's elaborate uniform and the horse's musculature. Note the precise cross-hatching that gives the image depth and volume, a time-intensive process demanding great skill. The print medium itself democratized images in the 18th and 19th centuries, making them accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. This coincides with a growing public interest in military exploits and the symbols of national power, and the rise of a middle class with money to spend on prints like this one. So, the next time you see a print, remember it's not just an image, but a product of skilled labor, technological innovation, and social change.