Political-Ravishment Possibly 1797

This hand-colored etching, "Political-Ravishment," was made by James Gillray, and printed in 1797. Gillray used etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production during this period. An image is scratched into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Here, he adds color by hand, layering further labor onto the industrial reproduction of the original design. The title suggests that the print is a political cartoon. In the work, we see an assault on a figure called "The Old Lady of Threadneedle-Street," slang for the Bank of England. The satirical nature of the print speaks to the complex relationship between the printmaker, the art market, and the wider public, as it challenges the traditional art world. Gillray's image satirizes the political and financial anxieties of the time, which offers a window into the social context of late 18th-century England, challenging traditional notions of art as separate from everyday life and political commentary.