Portret van Margaret Georgiana Spencer en haar dochter Georgiana c. 1769 - 1771

This print of Margaret Georgiana Spencer and her daughter Georgiana was made by James Watson in the late 18th century using a technique called mezzotint. To make a mezzotint, the entire surface of a copper plate is roughened with a tool called a rocker. This creates a solid black tone when printed. The artist then gradually burnishes or scrapes away areas to create lighter tones and highlights. The velvety texture of the mezzotint lends itself well to capturing the soft fabrics and delicate details of the sitters' clothing, like the lace trimming and the intricate folds of the dresses. The laborious process involved would have required considerable skill, and the resulting prints were valued as luxury items. Consider the amount of work involved in creating such a print, and the social context in which it was made. Mezzotints like this allowed for the dissemination of aristocratic imagery, contributing to the construction of celebrity, and connecting to wider issues of class and consumption in the 18th century. By understanding the materials, making, and context, we can fully appreciate the meaning of this print.