The First of September – Morning 1796

This print, titled "The First of September - Morning," was created by George Morland. Its composition is based on etching, aquatint and mezzotint, processes involving the selective use of acid to eat into a copper plate. This combination allows for an image with both fine lines and subtle gradations of tone. Morland was popular for his rustic scenes, and this one is no exception. It depicts the beginning of the hunting season in Britain, a pursuit closely associated with the leisure class. Yet if you look closely at this image, you can also sense the working life of the stable. The artist gives us the tools – the broom in the lower right – and the animals that do the labor. It’s worth remembering that prints like this were often made in multiples, and sold to a broad audience, so what we’re seeing isn’t simply a depiction of aristocratic life, but also its consumption as an image. Considering this work through the lens of materiality, making, and context allows us to appreciate its full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.