Snobisme 1897

Editor: So, here we have Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s “Snobisme,” created around 1897. It's a sketch, and the figures feel really staged, almost satirical. I'm curious – what’s your take on this, considering the time it was made? Curator: The economic conditions surrounding Toulouse-Lautrec shaped his practice and, consequently, the meaning of his work. This piece captures a snapshot of Parisian society in the late 19th century, doesn't it? Who had access to the materials needed to create these sketches? Editor: Right, only certain classes could afford such leisures. The work appears like it was created relatively quickly; how might Lautrec’s methods have impacted who saw or could access the final product? Curator: Lautrec utilized the lithographic process, which was somewhat more accessible for dissemination compared to painting. But how did the subjects and styles represented through such lithographs contribute to reinforcing, or challenging, pre-existing notions of class and social standing? Editor: That's interesting. Because, on one hand, the material was maybe more widely distributed, but it also kind of caricatures a wealthy setting. Did the artistic techniques that he uses affect the meaning as much as subject he represents? Curator: Absolutely. The “how” is integral to the “what.” Lautrec’s rapid style speaks to an efficiency that mass production allows but also underscores his unique skilled labor. These sketches were a type of consumer product – did that influence their reception? Editor: I never thought about how the materials of his time, and methods he used, would ultimately give commentary on those being painted, in terms of access and critique of production. Curator: Considering the conditions surrounding art making certainly enriches one's reading of these fleeting scenes. It underscores art's role as both a reflection of and a participant in its cultural moment.