Deutscher Wald und Hain in Wort und Bild c. 1879

Curator: This is the title page of "Deutscher Wald und Hain in Wort und Bild" by Johann Fischbach, dating to around 1879. The primary materials, of course, are paper and ink used for printing. Editor: It has a slightly old-fashioned feel, just by looking at it! The paper has aged beautifully and it looks so tactile. What jumps out to you when you look at this title page? Curator: I’m particularly interested in the production of this printed material within the social context of late 19th-century Germany. Think about the labour involved – from the making of the paper, perhaps using rags and mechanical pulping techniques, to the typesetting and printing processes. Who were the people involved in each stage of the work? What were their working conditions? These considerations are central to my understanding of the piece. Editor: I see your point about considering the means of production, especially thinking about how labour-intensive it would've been compared to today. Do you think the book's themes—the German forest and its depiction in words and images—also speak to any material concerns of the time? Curator: Absolutely! The very idea of "Wald und Hain" or forest and grove suggests a relationship between nature, national identity, and perhaps, anxieties about industrialization and the increasing consumption of natural resources. Consider how paper production itself impacts forests. How does the creation of this object inherently partake in its own theme? The visual representation here could represent either resistance or even promotion of industrialization at the time. Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at it - almost a commentary on its own creation. Thanks, this gave me so much more to think about regarding the work. Curator: Precisely! Exploring art through its materials and social context unlocks such exciting dialogues. I hope it encourages you to do the same.