Gående kriger med skjold 1836

Editor: This is "Going Warrior with Shield" by Andreas Flinch, created in 1836. It appears to be a woodcut or engraving depicting a medieval soldier. The detail achieved through the printmaking process is really striking! What stands out to you about the materiality of this artwork? Curator: Immediately, I am drawn to the artist's engagement with material production in 1836, likely using newly industrialized methods to mimic pre-industrial, medieval subjects. Note the precision enabled by the medium of engraving versus the labor-intensive processes implied by the figure’s subject matter – handmade shield, forged sword, hand-sewn clothing. What sort of statement do you think the artist makes about the value of craft versus industrial means? Editor: It's fascinating how the medium creates a contrast with the subject. Perhaps it's about progress? On the one hand celebrating technological advancements, but at the same time feeling nostalgia for the pre-industrial age? Curator: Exactly. Consider the social context: as industrialization advanced, the value – and availability – of handmade goods changed drastically. An inexpensive print, distributed widely, brings the exclusive imagery of warfare and medievalism to a new consuming audience, far from any battlefield. In what ways might mass production alter one’s appreciation of the figure depicted? Editor: So, the print itself democratizes the image of the warrior, who would traditionally be a figure of high social status. It changes the accessibility, and potentially, the perceived value of heroism, strength, even perhaps national identity. Curator: Precisely. The artist’s clever use of medium and imagery reveals much about 19th-century production and consumption. We must consider who is buying such a work and what meaning the medieval figure holds for this audience. Editor: That gives me a completely different perspective. I'll never look at historical prints the same way again! It is as if Flinch predicted today's discussions about AI art and how digital tools influence artistic creation and challenge our notion of what art truly is.