Wounded Gladiator, after antiquity c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have a small, oval relief sculpture titled "Wounded Gladiator, after antiquity," created by the Pichler family. It’s quite moving in its depiction of suffering. What does this piece say to you? Curator: I see here the commodification of classical ideals. This intimate object, likely mass-produced, speaks to the industrialization of art and the consumption of classical imagery by a growing middle class. What does the choice of material suggest to you about its intended audience? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered! I was only thinking about the gladiator’s pain, but you’re right, the means of production and distribution are key. Thanks. Curator: Exactly! By considering how and for whom the object was made, we can unravel its historical and social significance.