San Quentin c. 1925

James Blanding Sloan created this print, titled 'San Quentin', using etching techniques. Lines are incised into a metal plate with acid. The plate's material, typically copper or zinc, allows for precise detailing, which you can see in the architectural elements and figures. Consider the labor involved: Sloan meticulously crafted the composition, controlling the acid's bite to achieve the tonal variations. The matrix becomes an instrument of social commentary. Look closely. The stark lines and shadowy figures evoke confinement, reflecting on the prison's purpose and the lives within its walls. The act of printmaking becomes a form of bearing witness. Sloan's choice of printmaking elevates the subject matter. By using craft, he prompts us to reflect on labor, confinement, and the human condition. The print asks us to consider San Quentin not just as a place, but as a reflection of our society.