Gezicht op een plataan, op een landgoed in de buurt van Dunblane 1801 - 1802

James Fittler's "View of a Plane Tree, on an Estate near Dunblane," is an engraving, made using metal plates to transfer an image onto paper. This method was an innovative means of production that allowed for the wide distribution of images. Notice how the texture and detail achieved through the engraving process capture the dense foliage of the tree, which dominates the scene. The meticulous carving required to produce such detail speaks to the labor involved in printmaking at the time. The crisp lines and tonal range, from deep shadows to soft highlights, are a testament to Fittler's mastery of the technique. Engraving as a method is tied to broader social issues of labor and consumption, sitting somewhere between craft and industrial production. It democratized art by making images accessible to a wider audience, while also reflecting the socio-economic structures of its time, where skilled labor was essential to the production of art. Considering materials, making, and context allows us to fully understand the meaning and relevance of this print, challenging the distinctions between fine art and craft.