THE FLYING TRUNK 

Heinrich Lefler created "The Flying Trunk" using watercolor and graphite. It’s a work of dreamy imagination, yet its material reality is very much tied to the economics of its time. Watercolor allowed Lefler to build up intricate layers of detail, like the elaborate mosaic tiling, all produced at a relatively low cost. The graphite underdrawing would have been efficient, almost mechanical. This combination allowed for detailed images to be efficiently reproduced, aligning with the growth of the publishing industry during the late 19th century. The image suggests travel, trade, and leisure, but the artist’s chosen media also speak to the increasing accessibility of art-making, its connection to commerce, and perhaps even to notions of artistic labor itself. Looking at the materials and techniques used in "The Flying Trunk" reminds us that art isn't just about the subject; it's about the choices artists make, and how those choices reflect the world around them.