The Overthrow of Dr. Slop (Tristram Shandy) 1800 - 1820

Curator: So, here we have Henry William Bunbury's "The Overthrow of Dr. Slop," a watercolor print created sometime between 1800 and 1820. It's certainly got a lot going on, with a distinctly comedic feel. The figures, the animals...it's all quite chaotic! How do you interpret this work? Editor: Well, immediately I’m drawn to the materiality of the piece, how Bunbury utilizes watercolor to achieve such fine detail in the caricature. The production of prints during this time… what statement might Bunbury be trying to make through its form? Curator: Exactly! Consider the social context. Printmaking allowed for wider dissemination of images, making satire accessible beyond elite circles. It challenges notions of fine art by existing as a mass-produced item. We can also consider the economic forces enabling Bunbury's artistic practice - who commissioned or purchased prints like these and what purpose did it serve for them? Were these luxury goods or did they achieve wider viewership? Editor: So, it’s less about the individual artist’s genius, and more about the systems that enable and distribute the artwork? What about Bunbury's choice of watercolor alongside the print medium; does the former contribute uniqueness and artistic credibility lacking in print? Curator: The interplay between these media blurs that high/low art divide, especially as watercolor at this time developed more prestige but print served the broader society. Can we also analyze the raw materials of the print making - the paper, inks, and plates, examining their origins, manufacturing, and distribution chains? These economic and material traces weave meaning into this artwork. Editor: I never thought about analyzing an artwork like that, I learned so much more than I would have originally by considering its form and social context. Curator: Seeing art through the lens of production and material conditions brings historical, social, and cultural dynamics to light. Now we can see the rich meaning layering this print.