Sketch of a Prehistoric Deer 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's 'Sketch of a Prehistoric Deer.' It's a simple line drawing, almost childlike. I am curious, what do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious subject matter? Curator: Well, first I see the paper itself, a commodity produced by labor. Ross chose this specific material. What statement does the simplicity and the raw material make about artistic value here? Editor: I suppose it makes art accessible, less about high-end materials and more about the idea. Thanks for the insight! Curator: Indeed. It points to the democratization of artmaking, using readily available, inexpensive materials.