Peasant Sleeping near Ruins 1760

Editor: This is "Peasant Sleeping near Ruins" by Johann Georg Wille. The etching is incredibly detailed. What does this scene tell you about 18th-century labor and class? Curator: Notice the meticulous etching technique. Wille likely intended to elevate printmaking. The ruins, contrasted with the sleeping peasant, speak volumes about social structures and the value placed on labor. Consider the materials used - paper, ink, metal plates - and the labor involved in their production. Editor: It is interesting to think about the choice of material too, and that it is an etching. Thanks for the different perspective! Curator: Indeed, focusing on the material conditions reveals hidden layers of meaning. It changes how we understand art.