View on Lübeck 

Editor: Here we have Ulrich Hübner's "View on Lübeck," a graphite drawing on paper. There's something almost desolate about it, a real starkness in the scene despite it being a cityscape. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the artist's choice of materials. Graphite on paper allows for such immediacy. I wonder, what kind of labor went into the production of both the graphite and the paper? Was the paper handmade, and if so, what does that tell us about the potential value placed on this drawing? Also, think about how graphite, as a material, democratizes art-making; it is easily accessible and relatively inexpensive. Editor: That’s interesting. I was just focused on the subject, the city itself. You're making me think about the production side of things. Curator: Exactly. And that brown paper isn’t accidental. Was this drawing intended as a preliminary study, perhaps a sketch done on location in a personal sketchbook? Also, look at the loose strokes, almost like notations. Consider the etching technique as a means of mass production, too. It enables the distribution of this view of Lübeck to a wider audience beyond those who might experience the physical site. Editor: So, even this seemingly simple drawing opens up questions about the artist's process, the availability of materials, and ultimately, who gets to see this "view"? Curator: Precisely. We’re questioning the traditional idea of the solitary genius, focusing instead on the social and economic structures that enable this image to exist. Think, too, about the maritime activity depicted; shipbuilding was central to Lübeck. The etching speaks to commodity exchange. Editor: I hadn't considered how the drawing's creation is just as important as the city it depicts. Curator: It all feeds into the meaning. Considering the process, labor and distribution transforms our reading experience and helps understand its context beyond aesthetic pleasure. Editor: I’ll never look at a simple drawing the same way again. Thanks!