Cymon and Iphigenia 1796

This hand-colored etching, Cymon and Iphigenia, was made in 1796 by James Gillray. Etching is an printmaking process that relies on the corrosive effect of acid to create an image in metal, and the technique was especially popular in the 18th century as a method of satire. Gillray has used etching to create a caricature, a kind of exaggeration of reality. The acid bites into the metal plate, allowing the artist to create fine lines and intricate details. Note the way Gillray uses cross-hatching to create shading, adding depth and volume to the figures. He builds up tiny marks to give weight to the characters, and uses the same method to suggest the texture of the landscape. The application of color, likely done by hand, adds to the vivacity of the scene. This kind of printmaking made art accessible and widely distributed during a time of great social and political change. Gillray was a master of the art of satire, and we can see the effects of this in the final composition.