Monsieur Fanfan 1778

Editor: Here we have Jean-Honoré Fragonard's "Monsieur Fanfan," it's a small print. The image is lively, but it's hard to make out what's happening. What are your thoughts on this piece? Curator: Given Fragonard's time, the etching process interests me. The way the ink sits on the paper's surface is crucial. Consider this print as a consumer good. It democratized imagery, making art accessible beyond painting's elite circles. How does this impact our understanding of artistic labor? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. I never thought about prints as consumer objects before. Curator: The materiality and reproducibility of etching enabled broader consumption and dissemination. Editor: That's given me a lot to think about regarding accessibility and art. Curator: Indeed, it highlights how art's value shifts with its means of production and distribution.