Barfüssele door Robert Cauer 1850 - 1900

This is a photograph of a marble sculpture made by Carl Heinrich Jacobi. The image captures the smooth, cool texture of the stone, and the artist's meticulous carving. The making of this sculpture involves skilled labor. Consider the work required to extract the marble from the earth, transport it, and then carve it into the desired form. Each mark on the surface is a trace of the sculptor's hand, guided by artistic vision and technical know-how. There is a tradition here that speaks to neoclassical aesthetics, the canon of fine art, and the cultural values associated with that world. This photograph preserves the sculpture but also reproduces it, making it accessible to a wider audience. It's a reminder that art exists not only as a physical object but also as an idea. The value ascribed to such objects is not intrinsic, but the result of economic forces.