(Faust and Mephisto) c. 19th century

Editor: This is Theodor Kiellerup's drawing of Faust and Mephisto. It's a pencil sketch, very dynamic. What can you tell me about the artist's process and how it connects to the cultural context? Curator: Look closely at the visible labor: the hurried sketch lines, the barely-there suggestion of figures. It speaks volumes about the potential for mass production and dissemination of images during Kiellerup's time. How do you think this medium impacts our understanding of the Faust legend? Editor: I suppose it democratizes it, makes it more accessible than a grand history painting might. Curator: Precisely. The materiality and the means of production are intertwined with the cultural impact of the narrative. Editor: I never thought about a drawing in that way before! Curator: The artist's hand and the story are bound by the cultural and material landscape of the time.