-Le Rire- magazine 24 - 1899

Editor: So, this is a cover from "-Le Rire- magazine," dated June 24, 1899. It's a mixed-media lithograph print. It has an intriguing humorous yet serious tone, and it is made using mixed media; the artist did a fantastic job utilizing such a variety of art medium. What stands out to you in terms of how it was made, and how do you think that relates to its meaning? Curator: The material production of "Le Rire" is fascinating. It's a lithograph, a print, so already we're talking about something reproducible, disseminated widely. But notice the handwork involved - the colored pencil, the possible watercolor. This points to a fascinating tension: mass production meeting unique, skilled labor. How might this affect its reception by the public? Is it mass media or crafted fine art object? Editor: That's interesting! It's like, the materials reflect both accessibility and artistry, intended for a broad audience yet relying on the skills of artisans and designers. I never considered how the printmaking technique enabled it to be replicated on a large scale to quickly produce and publish it to many readers. Does the French cultural context matter for considering materiality here? Curator: Absolutely! Think about the Parisian "flâneur," consuming art as they moved through the city. Cheap, mass-produced art like this became woven into everyday experience, much like our digitally distributed images today. Its disposability was inherent, made from low cost materials and destined to be outdated as soon as next week’s issue was available. Editor: So the materiality isn't just about the object itself, but about the whole social environment of its creation and consumption. It challenges ideas about what's "high" art, too, if everyday labor and materials can create such meaningful imagery! It certainly opened up new views on art in terms of production value versus consumer usage. Curator: Precisely! It asks us to look at the art world beyond just aesthetics, beyond beauty, beyond traditional genres. Editor: I see so much more than I initially recognized now!