Interior of Durham Cathedral 

This is David Roberts's sketch of the Interior of Durham Cathedral. Using graphite and watercolor on paper, Roberts captures the cathedral's soaring Gothic architecture. But look closely – this isn't just a reverent depiction. Roberts was a master lithographer, and his artworks often served as preparatory studies for large-scale prints. This sketch then, isn't the final product, but a step in a process of mechanical reproduction. It’s a translation from the hand to the press, and a nod to the growing accessibility of art in the industrial age. Consider the labor involved, from quarrying the stone for the cathedral itself, to Roberts's practiced hand, and finally, the printing process that would bring this image to a wider audience. The cathedral, a symbol of faith and power, is now mediated through the materials and processes of mass production. It is this intersection of craft, industry, and artistry that makes Roberts's sketch so compelling.