The Region of Selfishness 1807

Curator: "The Region of Selfishness" by John Flaxman presents a fascinating study in line and form. What strikes you most about this etching? Editor: Well, the figures seem caught in a frantic rush, almost like a production line. The title suggests a moral commentary, but the means of conveying it feels so… manufactured. What does that tension tell us? Curator: Exactly! Flaxman, working during the rise of industrial production, likely saw parallels between the dehumanization of labor and the consequences of unchecked egoism. Note the repetitive poses. Is this a critique of societal structures? Editor: So, it's not just about individual selfishness, but the system that enables or even encourages it? That's powerful! Curator: Precisely. Flaxman uses the etching process itself, a form of reproduction, to highlight the mechanized nature of selfishness and its widespread impact. It forces us to consider not just the "what" but the "how" of moral decay. Editor: I see it now. The medium really does amplify the message. Thanks for pointing that out!