Über Künstler und Kunstwerke II 1867

This is the cover and first page of “Über Künstler und Kunstwerke II,” a book written by Herman Grimm and printed in Berlin in 1867. As with any book, it’s worth considering the materials and processes involved in its making. Take the paper, for instance. It's been industrially produced from wood pulp, transformed by machinery to create a smooth, even surface, which in turn serves as a ground for printed text. The book's words are presented in orderly lines, thanks to the invention of movable type and the printing press. Consider the amount of labor required to produce such an object, from forestry and milling, to typesetting and bookbinding. Each step involves human skill, yet is increasingly determined by the logic of mass production. In its time, this book helped to democratize knowledge, bringing art history to a wider audience. Today, we can see how the book itself – as a material object – bears witness to broader economic and social forces.