Benjamin Franklin 1777 - 1883

Editor: Here we have Jean-Baptiste Greuze's "Benjamin Franklin," created sometime between 1777 and 1883, using pencil. I'm struck by the softness of the rendering and the almost paternal gaze. How would you interpret this work? Curator: Considering Greuze's focus, it is worthwhile to analyze his choice of pencil as a material. Pencil allowed for detailed rendering, essential for portraiture catering to bourgeois desires. However, it also speaks to efficiency. Was this portrait produced for mass consumption, readily reproducible and accessible to a growing market? Editor: That's a really interesting angle. I was focused on the artistic skill, the delicate shading... but now I'm thinking, how many of these could he churn out? Curator: Exactly. And note Franklin's fur collar. It’s more than just an indicator of status. Fur implies trade, access to resources, the social structures that provide it. Where was that fur sourced? Who processed it? Consumption becomes an embedded social narrative. Editor: So, you’re seeing the drawing itself, and the depiction of Franklin’s clothing, as evidence of a whole economic system at play? It kind of changes my perception of Franklin as just a statesman. Curator: Precisely! It urges us to move beyond individual genius towards understanding the material circumstances that underpin even seemingly straightforward depictions of historical figures. It's not just about Franklin, but also about the systems that enabled his portrayal. Editor: I’ve definitely gained a deeper perspective today on how materiality reveals so much more than just the surface. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure!