Two Figures and a Dog 17th-18th century

Editor: Here we have Jacopo Amigoni's drawing, *Two Figures and a Dog*. It's a quick sketch, about 20 by 27 centimeters, made with what looks like ink on paper. I'm curious about the immediacy of the lines. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Considering Amigoni's societal position, it is imperative to examine the material conditions that allowed for such an efficient drawing practice. Was the paper readily available? What quality of ink was used? Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't thought about the materials themselves offering a commentary. Curator: Absolutely. Think about the division of labor – who prepared the ink, sourced the paper? This challenges the romantic notion of the lone artist, highlighting the economic structures at play. Editor: This gives me so much to think about. I hadn't considered the layers of production behind even a simple sketch like this.