In woodcuts a key block is usually used to define the outlines of the forms in black. Tethering Goats does not have a key block. Instead Marjorie Firth has produced a more subtle and soft effect with expertly laid areas of colour, showing her technical expertise with the woodcut medium. Firth was based in London for most of her career. She exhibited at the Redfern Gallery and was also a member of the New English Art Club and the Society of Women Artists. She also exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1923 and 1960 and worked predominantly with linocuts and wood engravings.