Family of Goats c. 18th century

Editor: This is Samuel Howitt's "Family of Goats." The texture created by the etching is lovely. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I see the means of production. Consider the labor required to create the copper plate and the paper. Think about the social context; who had access to such images and what role did they play in shaping ideas about nature and the rural economy? Editor: That's a different angle than I considered. So you're saying the value isn't just in the image itself, but also in how it was made and who consumed it? Curator: Precisely. By focusing on the materials and processes, we can understand how this artwork was not just an aesthetic object but also a product of its time, reflecting the relationship between art, labor, and consumption. Editor: I see. I’ve learned something new.