Relief of Eros with Two Female Figures; Studies for Two Vessels c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Fragonard's "Relief of Eros with Two Female Figures; Studies for Two Vessels." It's a pencil sketch, and I'm really drawn to the depiction of those ornate vessels. What do you make of Fragonard's choice of subject matter and the artistic process here? Curator: Well, observe how Fragonard translates classical themes into designs for functional objects. Consider the social context: such vessels would have been commissioned by the wealthy. It challenges our notion of fine art. Editor: So you see the drawing itself as a record of artistic labor, tied to consumption? Curator: Precisely! These sketches reveal the means of production – a direct link between the artist's hand and the commodities of the elite. It makes you think about the artist's role in that society, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely! I never really considered the economic implications behind these preliminary sketches before.