Family of Goats c. 19th century

Editor: This is Karl Bodmer's "Family of Goats," a small etching. I find the detail in the fur striking. What can you tell me about the work that went into creating this print? Curator: Consider the socio-economic context of printmaking at the time. Bodmer likely produced this for a growing market of art consumers eager for accessible images. The etching process itself—the labor involved in acid-etching the plate, inking, and printing—democratized image production, making art available beyond the elite. Editor: So, the medium itself changes who can access art? Curator: Precisely. And it begs us to consider who profits from this labor and to whom these images were marketed. It's not just about the aesthetic, but about the entire system of production and consumption. Editor: I've never considered the market's role so explicitly. Curator: Thinking about the art object as a commodity reveals much about its time.