Game of lottery for children 1855 - 1865

Curator: Here we have Antonio Bosch's "Game of Lottery for Children," made sometime between 1855 and 1865. It's an engraving, ink on paper, now held at the Metropolitan Museum. Quite the find, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely! My first thought? It's like peering into a whimsical alternate reality. The texture and density are astonishing. Such detailed imagery squeezed onto a single page... it’s almost overwhelming but in the most intriguing way. Curator: It's interesting how Bosch combines what looks like an attempt to amuse children while potentially functioning as popular public gambling device, printed quickly and cheaply for mass consumption. We have figures marching, playing, all kinds of things...a window into how prints could both entertain and function economically for a largely untutored populace. Editor: That cheap and cheerful intention really does shine through. All these tiny dramas unfolding. I'm picturing kids gathering around this sheet, their eyes wide as they decide what images might hold their luck. You can almost hear the buzz of excitement. There’s also a delightful roughness around the edges that softens what otherwise could be sternly pedagogical. Curator: That roughness comes, in part, from the printing methods. Looking closely at the paper, one can practically trace the lines and see evidence of the plate. The cheap materials don't detract at all from our interest in the thing; they enrich the story about what these kinds of images meant, in context. Editor: Right! And think about how this kind of artwork democratized art viewing itself. It's a world away from high art intended for galleries. I imagine these were pinned to walls in taverns or sold at fairs – instantly accessible, instantly engaging. Curator: Absolutely, these sheets of printed images made art accessible as a cheap, practical device. Bosch isn’t so concerned with fine artistry, per se. It’s more about making these small, engaging stories affordable. Editor: A different approach. Maybe that's why it sparks so much joy in me today. Thanks to pieces like these, even after all these years, we get such a vivid snapshot of daily life. Curator: Indeed, something worth celebrating even now. Editor: Definitely leaves a delightful shiver, knowing all the hands and eyes that have witnessed this playful lottery!