Canal San Cassiano, Venice 1885

Editor: This is Andrew Fisher Bunner's "Canal San Cassiano, Venice," created in 1885 using pencil and ink. I'm struck by the density of architectural details despite the limited palette. It makes me wonder, what do you notice when you look at this cityscape? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the means of production. Consider the labor invested in a drawing like this. Each line meticulously placed. Think about the availability of paper and ink at the time, the social conditions that allowed Bunner to dedicate himself to this kind of work. Is it merely a faithful representation, or a commodity produced for a specific market? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn’t considered it in that way. I was focused on the visual accuracy and the artist's skill in rendering the buildings and water. Do you think the materials themselves – pencil and ink – contribute to the drawing's meaning? Curator: Absolutely. Pencil and ink were readily available but think about the paper itself. Its quality speaks to the economic realities of the artist. Was it mass-produced? Handmade? Its texture would certainly impact the mark-making, and thus, the final image we see. How does the mass production of these materials affect our perception of art compared to, say, a fresco created with hand-ground pigments? Editor: So, by considering the materials and labor involved, we gain a better understanding of the artwork’s context? Curator: Precisely. We can challenge traditional art historical narratives that often overlook the materiality and processes behind art objects. What about the social aspect here? The architecture points toward the commercial exchange possible on that canal...What goods may have been sold along its waterway? Who owned these buildings and were they workers or consumers of fine arts? Editor: That makes me see the drawing in a new light – it's not just a pretty picture, but a document reflecting the social and economic forces at play in 19th-century Venice. I see much more at play when I consider these economic aspects.