Great Nettle
1854
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1854
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print, *Great Nettle*, was made in 1854 by Bradbury & Evans. It’s a nature print—no paint, just the plant itself pressed into metal. The trick is simple but clever: a real nettle was sandwiched between soft lead and hard copper. The leaf’s shape and veins transferred exactly onto the plate, giving us this wild, life-like image. Try the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
