Zwitsersche gezigten. / Vues Suisses 1842 - 1856

Editor: So, here we have "Zwitsersche gezigten. / Vues Suisses," a print made sometime between 1842 and 1856 by P.J. Delhuvenne. It’s this grid of tiny, almost cartoonish figures, engraved with little washes of color. It reminds me a bit of a sampler, but instead of stitches, we have everyday scenes and objects. What stands out to you? Curator: Well, what immediately grabs me is the industrial process. It is clear that the work is less about individual expression and more about accessible reproduction. This begs the question, what materials were easily accessible to Delhuvenne and how did this condition influence the subject matter selected? It's clearly meant for mass consumption, but by whom and why? Editor: Mass consumption… right. So you’re saying it's less about high art and more about the conditions that allowed it to be made and distributed? Curator: Exactly! What are the socio-economic conditions that make this sort of image appealing? How did it function within that market? Who was buying it, and how was it used? Notice how the very *act* of printing, with its reproducible nature, fundamentally changes our relationship with the imagery presented. The slight variations in inking, the paper used—they all speak to the methods of production at that time. Do you notice any themes related to daily labor represented in the print? Editor: Now that you point it out, there's a man digging, someone harvesting… things reflecting work! This was possibly accessible art for people reflecting on or directly involved with forms of labor and commerce, presented in a charming way. Curator: Precisely! And that material reality shapes not only its form but also its function. The piece shows not so much “art,” but also historical, tangible cultural meaning when put in context of means of production, audience and reception. Editor: That's a perspective I wouldn't have immediately considered! Seeing it as a material object with ties to social production makes so much sense. Thanks!