Prijslijst van het grafische werk van Etienne Bosch 1873 - 1933

Editor: So, this is "Prijslijst van het grafische werk van Etienne Bosch," a price list of graphic work by Etienne Bosch, dating roughly from 1873 to 1933. It appears to be ink on paper, featuring mostly hand-lettering. The writing and different prices give the impression of a commercial document. What catches your eye here? Curator: This piece speaks volumes about the intersection of art and economics, challenging the often-rigid boundaries between high art and everyday utility. I immediately focus on the materiality—the paper itself, the ink meticulously applied, the act of inscription. Editor: Can you elaborate on that a little? It just looks like a list to me. Curator: Consider the social context: the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, we see graphic art, specifically printmaking, democratizing art production, making it accessible. This price list gives insight into how Bosch commercialized his artistic labor. The very act of assigning monetary value to each graphic work implicates it in systems of trade and consumption. Editor: That makes sense. I hadn't considered it from that angle. So it's not just the finished product, but the entire process and system around it. Curator: Exactly! How were these prints consumed? Who had access to them? What impact did accessible art have on society? The details of material, typography, and presentation open dialogues far beyond simple aesthetics, questioning artistic labor. Look at the variations in prices...what dictates those differences in cost? Is it time? Materials? Demand? Editor: Wow, I guess there’s a lot more here than meets the eye! I will certainly look at similar pieces in a different way now. Curator: Absolutely, analyzing the materials and social context reframes the artwork.