Boney's Meditations on the Island of St. Helena 1815

George Cruikshank created this hand-colored etching, "Boney's Meditations on the Island of St. Helena," using printmaking techniques that were sharply on the rise in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The image is dominated by crisp lines, achieved through etching a metal plate. The use of hand-coloring adds another layer, likely done by workshop assistants, making the print more visually appealing and saleable. The texture of the paper, visible beneath the ink and color, speaks to the industrial production of paper at the time, a process increasingly mechanized to meet the demand for printed materials. This satirical print shows Napoleon as a devilish figure, railing against the sun, which bears the names of his enemies. The very act of printing, coloring, and distributing such images speaks to a burgeoning media landscape, one fuelled by both technological advancements and a voracious public appetite for news and political commentary. The piece, produced for mass consumption, reflects how advancements in manufacturing and distribution impacted social and political discourse.