Figuren en dieren 1806 - 1830

Editor: Here we have "Figuren en dieren" or "Figures and Animals," a print made between 1806 and 1830 by Johan Noman. It’s displayed at the Rijksmuseum. The figures are organized in small, almost cartoonish, engraved vignettes. There is an appealing rawness to it that is both charming and kind of strange, the way labor and play are so plainly represented in their process. What's your take on this piece? Curator: It's a fascinating example of vernacular printmaking. I'm immediately drawn to the materiality – the cheap paper, the crude engraving. These choices speak volumes. These weren't luxury items for the wealthy; they were affordable images for a broad public, illustrating common knowledge and ideas, made with available technologies. Editor: So, you’re seeing this less as “art” and more as… functional? Curator: Exactly. We must consider how this print circulated, who made it, and under what economic conditions. The artist’s, or perhaps more accurately the craftsman’s, labor is crucial. Engraving demanded skill but was ultimately a replicable, commercial process. How did this medium democratize images? Did it affect notions of craft and high art? Editor: That’s really interesting – so it’s more about production than pure aesthetics. Considering who had access to them and what those consumers did with them shifts the conversation entirely. Curator: Precisely. Looking closely, do the subjects provide any insight to its function or its consumer's worldview? The playful images evoke everyday life, maybe children’s games, farm life? Editor: It does feel very didactic, even. I never thought about approaching art from this angle. It almost makes it feel more... real. Thanks! Curator: You’re welcome. Now you can also bring this perspective when examining painting and sculpture!