His approach relied on a technical mastery of the burin and etching needle. Works like The Cow Doctor and Hawking Party demonstrate his ability to balance light and shadow without relying on heavy washes. He focused on the clarity of form. Many of his contemporaries sought to simplify designs for mass production. Cousen instead maintained the small details found in the original canvases. This precision is evident in his architectural subjects, such as Ruined Temple. Every stone and shadow is defined with precision.

Modern collectors value these prints for their historical accuracy and technical skill. They represent a period when the reproduction of art was an art form. His work provides a window into Victorian tastes. He covered subjects from romantic mythology in Birth of Balphoebe and Amoret to everyday rural life. These engravings offer a sense of order and fine detail. They suit a minimalist or traditional interior. They function as quiet studies in line and composition.