The Virtue of Lucretia 1789

Editor: This is "The Virtue of Lucretia," a print by Jean François Janinet. It feels like a stage play frozen in time. What do you see when you look at this work? Curator: I see an engagement with the social rituals of the late 18th century. This print isn't just depicting a scene; it's about making that scene accessible and consumable for a wider audience. Editor: Consumable? Curator: Consider the labor involved in producing such a detailed print, and the market for it. This wasn't just art for the elite; it was part of a growing culture of printed images for a burgeoning middle class. What do you think? Editor: That context really shifts my perspective. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: Of course. Considering the means of production opens up a whole new way of understanding art!