Departure for the Market c. 18th century

Curator: The emphasis here is on the printmaking process itself. Look at the layering of lines, the labor involved in creating this illusion of depth and texture. How does Coulet's work as a printmaker influence our understanding of the marketplace as a site of labor and exchange? Editor: This print, "Departure for the Market" by Anne Philiberte Coulet, it seems like a document of everyday life. But looking closely, I am curious about all the activity depicted. What do you see in this piece? Curator: We often overlook the materiality of prints, how they democratized images. This print shows a journey to the market but also serves as a journey into the techniques and social implications of printmaking in the 18th century. Editor: That makes me think about who had access to these images and how that shaped their world. Thanks for highlighting those details!