Stable Interior 1899

This "Stable Interior" print was made by Timothy Cole. To make it, he would have used a steel plate, coated with an acid-resistant ground, through which he would have drawn his design. The plate would then be exposed to acid, biting away the exposed lines to create grooves. Ink would then be applied to the plate, filling these lines, and the surface wiped clean. Finally, the image would be transferred to paper under great pressure. The intaglio process lends itself to rendering depth and shadow through dense networks of fine lines. Notice the striking contrast between the dark, enclosed stable and the bright light streaming in from outside. Look closely and you’ll see the laborers tending to the horses, their work crucial to the functioning of the pre-industrial economy. Prints such as these allowed for the wider distribution of images. So, by understanding the printmaking process, we gain insight into its material qualities and the cultural values of the time.