View in the Lower Church of San Francesco, Assisi 1876

Editor: Here we have Carolus-Duran’s "View in the Lower Church of San Francesco, Assisi," created in 1876. The medium seems to be oil paint and possibly some impasto. It's a fascinating depiction, very dark and mysterious, with a prominent staircase. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, the interest lies in how Duran’s application of oil paint can be interpreted in terms of labour and consumption. This view invites us to consider more than just the aesthetics. Think of the process: the mining of pigments, their refinement, the mixing with oil, the layering on the canvas – each step involving physical labour. Editor: I never considered the literal work that went into just creating the paint itself. Curator: Exactly! And consider the patron's role. They are part of the production; someone consumes this object and finds meaning in it, elevating labour to “art." Also, it prompts a question of value: Is it intrinsic to the "spiritual" subject, or is it rooted in material engagement, i.e. the value creation through skilled application that transforms raw resources into desired aesthetics? Editor: So, by focusing on materiality and the production, it makes us reconsider what we find beautiful? Curator: Precisely! Duran isn't just showing us a pretty place; he's presenting us the result of intense, value-added transformation and labour. The social context becomes a feature of its beauty and not something disconnected. The value judgments of art shouldn’t stop at the surface or skill of hand, but also extend towards an accounting of means. Editor: That gives me a new perspective, moving past the composition to understand the painting as an artifact with economic and social implications. Curator: Right. It's about asking what we consume and value in both art and society.