Mill Near Brighton 1829

David Lucas created this print, *Mill Near Brighton*, using mezzotint, a painstaking process involving a tool called a rocker to create thousands of tiny dots on a copper plate. Look closely, and you’ll notice the velvety darks and subtle gradations of light. This atmospheric effect is achieved by scraping and burnishing the plate, selectively removing the burr to create smoother areas that hold less ink. The resulting print captures a full range of tones, from deep shadows to delicate highlights. Mezzotint was a favored method for reproducing paintings because of its tonal range, but it was also labor-intensive and required great skill. Lucas, in his role as a printmaker, was part of a complex system of production and consumption. His work made art accessible to a wider audience, but also raised questions about originality and artistic value in an age of mechanical reproduction. By understanding the materials, the making process, and its social context, we can fully appreciate the historical significance of Lucas’s image.