Cast Off Machiners Selling By Auction 1835

John Doyle created this lithograph, ‘Cast Off Machiners Selling By Auction’, in the early 19th century. Lithography is a printmaking process using a stone or metal plate with a smooth surface. The artist applies an image to the plate with a greasy crayon or ink, then wets the surface; the ink adheres only to the greasy areas, which is then transferred to paper. The image is a satirical comment on the economic changes wrought by industrialization. The horse being auctioned is a ‘cast off machiner’ – a piece of obsolete technology, rendered in the flesh. Note how the artist uses the lithographic medium to full effect. The shading gives a sense of depth and texture, highlighting the contrast between the solid, corpulent figures of the buyers and the lean form of the horse. Doyle's choice of lithography democratized image production, making art more accessible. It also mirrors the broader shift in society where industrialization changed how things were made, who made them, and for whom. This lithograph captures a moment of transition, inviting reflection on labor, progress, and the human cost of technological advancement.