D'Andrade, (as Don Juan), das Champagnerlied singend, "Der Weisse d'Andrade" 1911

Editor: So this is Max Slevogt’s "D'Andrade, (as Don Juan), das Champagnerlied singend, 'Der Weisse d'Andrade'," an etching of a performer in costume. It feels very theatrical and immediate. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The rough etching lines speak volumes about the speed of production. Slevogt likely captured this image in situ, focusing on the performative labor and the material conditions of the theater. Note how the costume, itself a product of skilled labor, defines the figure. Are we celebrating artistry or commodifying the performer? Editor: That's a really interesting point about commodification versus artistry. I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: The materiality of the printmaking process emphasizes the labor involved, challenging the notion of the artwork as purely intellectual creation. Considering Slevogt's social context, this could also be a commentary on class and spectacle.