Blackcock And Grouse In Flight – Winter 

Editor: So, here we have "Blackcock and Grouse in Flight – Winter" by Archibald Thorburn, it seems. The chill in the air is almost palpable looking at this watercolour. The details on the feathers are impressive, really. What stands out to you? Curator: What strikes me is the way Thorburn's work participates in a system of value. He is creating representations of animals prized in particular activities - hunting. His skills in rendering feather detail and depicting movement made him popular, but whose material interests did his work serve? Consider the labor involved - his, but also the labourers producing the paper, the paints. Editor: I see your point. It's easy to get lost in the beauty of the watercolour technique and overlook the socio-economic aspects of its creation. What kind of market would have existed for this kind of piece? Curator: A very specific one! Aristocrats, landowners, those who engaged in field sports. This image speaks to the leisure activities, and wealth associated with them, and how those activities intersect with our exploitation of natural resources. Thorburn’s materials allowed him to capture this very specific, and privileged, worldview. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. The materials are almost secondary to the social structure that enabled this artwork to be made and appreciated. It definitely provides another way of approaching the piece. Curator: Exactly. By analyzing the materials and their origins, we uncover a network of labour and social relations. It moves beyond the mere aesthetic appeal. What we appreciate today often hides production process and economic interests of their initial viewership. Editor: Thanks. I will definitely think more critically about that kind of thing now!