Cooper c. 19th century

Editor: Jules-Jacques Veyrassat's print, "Cooper," depicts a craftsman inside his workshop. The dark, shadowy interior evokes a sense of labor and isolation. What can you tell me about the social context of this work? Curator: Veyrassat often depicted working-class figures. Consider how this portrayal might intersect with the rise of industrialization and anxieties about disappearing traditional crafts. Does this image celebrate labor, or does it hint at the precarity of this profession? Editor: It feels a little like both, actually. There's a dignity to his work, but the darkness makes me wonder about the future. Curator: Exactly. And the print itself—a traditionally meticulous craft—is depicting another craft. Perhaps Veyrassat is asking us to value these skills during great social change. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I'll definitely look at it differently now. Curator: Thinking about it through a social lens really brings the art to life.