They are Polishing Him Up ("Y se las pulen") 1807 - 1845

Editor: This is "They are Polishing Him Up" by Leonardo Alenza, created sometime between 1807 and 1845. It’s a graphite etching, and I find its almost grotesque imagery fascinating. What strikes you about it? Curator: This piece resonates deeply when we consider the processes of manipulation. The act of "polishing him up" isn't just cosmetic, is it? Think about the labor involved – the physical act of etching the plate, creating multiple impressions, and the social labor of disseminating this image. Who was it meant for? And what “him” is being polished here? Editor: You're right, the bull-headed figure is clearly symbolic, and the women seem to be preparing him for something… almost like exploitation. So, the prints were… Curator: Probably intended for circulation within a particular social sphere. Alenza was commenting on the production and manipulation of power. Consider the materiality itself: etching allows for the mass production of images, broadening their reach. It speaks to the manufacturing of consent. How complicit are the tools themselves – the needles, the acid, the press – in creating this spectacle? Editor: Complicit...that's a powerful way to put it! So, the *making* of the artwork directly reflects the *making* of the thing it critiques. Curator: Exactly! Alenza isn't just showing us injustice; he's using the very tools that can perpetuate it. Think about the consumption of these images too – were they intended to rally resistance or merely to entertain the elite? Editor: It’s a darker perspective than I initially had. Curator: Art making is rarely separate from the cultural forces at play.