Illustration to the Iliad 1795

Editor: This is John Flaxman's "Illustration to the Iliad" from 1795. It’s an engraving on paper. I'm struck by the simplicity of the line work, and how it still conveys a sense of dynamism. What should we make of this piece? Curator: Let’s look at the material conditions of production here. Engravings like this were produced for mass consumption. Think about the labor involved, the craftsman replicating Flaxman's designs for a broad audience. Flaxman wasn’t just creating "high art"; he was providing imagery that was disseminated widely. Editor: So, the medium itself influenced the art? Curator: Precisely! Consider the intended market. These engravings weren't for wealthy collectors buying original paintings, but for a middle class eager to engage with classical narratives through accessible prints. It collapses high and low art distinctions, making Homer available to a new kind of consumer. Editor: So, is Flaxman commenting on labor? Curator: More subtly. Flaxman uses classical imagery but then disseminates it through a mechanical reproduction process that employs many laborers. This process changed the very definition of art production in the period. The Neoclassical style became widely known, through this democratization and wider consumption. Editor: So the art is almost about the consumption of imagery. It's really clever. Curator: Exactly. The art here transcends mere illustration, forcing one to consider the role of reproduction, accessibility, and consumption of artistic imagery in 18th-century society. What new value does it have to you now? Editor: That reframing opens it up for me. Now I look at this print as an object of mass production more than I do as a precious artwork. Curator: Precisely! Considering its place in the material culture of its time is really valuable.