George Moore c. 1880

Editor: Here we have Mary Cassatt's "George Moore," an etching on paper. The figure almost seems to emerge from the page through the lines. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: The means of production are critical. Etching allowed for reproducibility, impacting art's consumption. What social circles were these prints intended for, and how did that affect Cassatt's reputation and market value? Editor: So the printmaking process itself is what makes it significant? Curator: Precisely. It challenges the preciousness associated with unique works. Did Cassatt’s choice of this medium democratize art, or did it simply shift its material value? Editor: That's given me a new way to think about prints. Curator: Indeed. Material choices reveal so much about an artist's intent within a specific social and economic context.