Medaillon met man met zeis 1746 - 1775

Curator: So, we’re looking at "Medallion with man with scythe," an engraving made sometime between 1746 and 1775. It's unsigned, residing at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Yes! At first glance, it appears so delicate, this ink drawing of a rural scene, framed by a garland and set against almost wallpaper-like stripes. What strikes you about this print? Curator: The production process itself. We should consider the material reality of prints in the 18th century. This wasn’t 'high art' necessarily, but a reproductive medium, enabling images and ideas to circulate widely, reaching new audiences, even adorning domestic spaces as suggested by those stripes. Editor: Interesting! So, instead of focusing on the artistic genius, you are interested in how this object worked? Curator: Precisely! Look at the precision of the line work – think about the engraver, a skilled artisan transforming an image onto a copperplate through intense labor. The availability of paper and ink mattered too; each impression represents the consumption of these materials. This image participates in a network of making, distribution, and reception that speaks volumes about 18th-century society. What about the subject matter? A man with a scythe – What do you think that conveys? Editor: It feels almost romanticized, like a celebration of rural labor...or perhaps is it actually commenting on the socio-economic disparities of the time, showing a romanticized or stylized farm? Curator: Exactly. Perhaps its the labor of reproducing images in a growing commercial market and consumption society? And what laboring means more broadly in a world of vastly different working conditions. Editor: I never thought about engravings this way before, considering the labor and materials involved, rather than just the final image! Curator: Seeing art through the lens of material conditions opens up so many avenues for understanding its significance!