So this is what you call ready? c. 19th century

Editor: This is Paul Gavarni's lithograph, "So this is what you call ready?". I am struck by the details rendered using this medium. What can you tell me about the material context of this piece? Curator: As a print, it inherently speaks to wider distribution and consumption. The relative ease of producing lithographs allowed for images to reach a broader audience than traditional paintings, impacting how social commentary or caricature could be disseminated and understood. Editor: So, it's less about the artist's hand and more about the means of production and its cultural reach? Curator: Precisely. We consider who had access to these images and how that shapes the narrative itself. What does it mean to have art that's easily reproduced and circulated? Editor: That's a good point. I never thought about the artwork's reach. Curator: Considering this piece in that light changes everything.