Doornroosje 1828 - 1937

Editor: Here we have "Doornroosje," made between 1828 and 1937 by Oehmigke & Riemschnieder. It's a print showing scenes from Sleeping Beauty. It feels like a Victorian-era comic strip, almost. What do you make of it? Curator: I see a mass-produced print, likely for children. Let's think about the context of its production. This isn't a unique oil painting for a wealthy patron, but a reproducible image for wider consumption. What does that suggest about shifts in literacy and leisure time? Editor: Well, more people could read and wanted something to entertain them, something affordable. Was printmaking considered a low art compared to painting at the time? Curator: Precisely. The original artwork is diminished here. Focus instead on its method of production: engraving, lithography... consider the labour involved. What materials were used for the ink, the paper? Where was it printed, and by whom? The “fairy painting” theme becomes less significant when looking at how it’s created. Does the story still hold the same value with mass production? Editor: That's fascinating. It’s easy to overlook those aspects when focusing on the fairytale narrative itself, but understanding the process of making changes the meaning entirely. Curator: Exactly. The mode of reproduction alters its accessibility, dissemination, and ultimately, its cultural function. Consider who *owned* the printing press. That reveals further implications. Editor: I see your point. This piece shows us how cultural stories get disseminated through different means of production and how that process changes everything, not only in production volume but in meaning too. Thank you for that. Curator: My pleasure. Paying attention to the means of production gives us a deeper, material understanding of art and its place in society.