Prince Arthur Giving Welcome to the Archduke of Austria, etc. (Shakespeare, King John, Act 2, Scene 1) 1791

This print, depicting a scene from Shakespeare’s King John, was made by John Ogborne in the late 18th or early 19th century. He used a technique called engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Engraving was a highly skilled, labor-intensive practice. The precision required meant that it was often used for commercial purposes, like reproducing paintings or creating illustrations for books, thereby making art more accessible to a wider audience. In this print, notice the fine lines that define the figures' costumes and faces. The varying depths of the engraved lines create a sense of light and shadow, adding depth to the scene. The way Ogborne used this process demonstrates how craft and artistic skill were intertwined with the burgeoning print culture of the time, playing a role in disseminating art and literature to a broader public. It’s a reminder that "high art" and "craft" often share a common ground.