Preparing to Start 1811

Thomas Rowlandson created 'Preparing to Start' using etching and aquatint, processes which rely on acid to bite into a metal plate and create an image. It’s then printed and hand-colored. These techniques, requiring specialized knowledge, were a key part of the print industry in Rowlandson's time. The image itself provides a snapshot of Georgian society at a horse race. The controlled lines of the etching allow for a detailed depiction of the crowd, grandstand and surrounding landscape. But it’s the aquatint and watercolor that really bring the scene to life, adding depth and vibrancy to the bustling scene. Prints like this were often made for a mass market. So, think about the labor involved, from the initial concept, to the skilled execution of the etching and aquatint processes, to the hand-coloring that would have been done assembly-line style. In understanding the layers of artistic production, we can better understand the world from which the artwork came.