The Hydropaths: Second Treatment (plate 2) 1843

This lithograph was made in 1853 by Charles Jacque, and is printed on paper. The lithographic process is key to understanding this image. To make a print like this, the artist draws on a flat stone with a greasy crayon. The stone is then treated with chemicals so that ink will stick only to the drawn areas. Finally, paper is pressed onto the stone to transfer the image. Lithography allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making them widely available and affordable. Here, that reproducible quality speaks directly to the subject matter: a satirical take on hydrotherapy, a popular 19th-century medical treatment involving water. We see a patient subjected to the treatment, while the "doctor" oversees the process with a disturbing grin. The relatively quick printmaking technique mirrors the mass appeal of new modes of medical treatment, which are not always as effective or harmless as they seem. Ultimately, this print reminds us that the materials and processes used to create an artwork are integral to its meaning, reflecting social attitudes and beliefs of the time.