Pasture c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Pasture" by Jules Didier. It looks like it’s a print of cows in a field. I’m curious about the process of creating such a detailed image with printmaking. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Didier's "Pasture" compels us to consider the socio-economic context of its production. Notice the textures rendered; these are achieved through labor-intensive processes. It makes me wonder, what kind of labor went into the making of this piece, and for what market was it produced? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered the labor involved in creating the print itself. It adds another layer to my understanding. Curator: Indeed. Thinking about the material conditions behind art changes how we value it.