Costume Design for "Orlando" 1889

Editor: Here we have Charles Bianchini's "Costume Design for 'Orlando'," created in 1889 using watercolor and print. It's a delicate drawing, and the color palette is muted and interesting. What stands out to you about this particular work? Curator: What intrigues me is thinking about this work in terms of the production process. As a costume design, it immediately begs questions about theatrical production. The watercolor, a relatively accessible medium, stands in stark contrast to, potentially, the costly textiles envisioned for the actual costume. How does the ease of the design's creation translate or contrast with the labor and cost associated with realizing this design on stage? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It is interesting how the drawing serves a very practical purpose, a means to an end, yet now it exists as art. Does the choice of watercolor inform your understanding further? Curator: Absolutely. Watercolor allowed for quick sketches and color studies, emphasizing efficiency. But consider the social context: this was a time when "high art" was often distinguished from "craft." How does a design for a theatrical costume, which blends artistic skill with practical application, challenge those rigid boundaries? Is it craft? Is it art? Or something in between, intrinsically tied to the labor of theatrical production? Editor: I see what you mean. It's making me think about all the hands involved in bringing this design to life beyond the artist. The tailors, the actors, even the audience, all play a role in completing the work. Curator: Precisely. The materiality of theater is so often overlooked. By focusing on the materials and production behind the performance, we appreciate how seemingly ephemeral art forms are built upon material labor. Editor: I learned a great deal, now I see how thinking about labor and the context is essential to truly understanding artwork like Bianchini’s design. Curator: Likewise, this investigation opens the aperture for me. Examining the social and material elements enhances any work of art.