Charmettes, Chambéry 1871

Editor: This is "Charmettes, Chambéry," an anonymous 19th-century British School watercolour. It's quite small and delicate. What strikes me is the use of watercolor. What do you see in the process and materials here? Curator: The seemingly effortless application belies a complex labor process. Consider the sourcing of pigments, the making of paper, the social status afforded by such leisure activity. It's a material record of class and consumption. Editor: That's fascinating. Thank you for helping me appreciate this piece on a deeper level. Curator: It's crucial to think of art as a product of its time, reflecting the social and economic forces at play.