Michael Hirsch c. 18th century

Editor: This etching, "Michael Hirsch" by Georg Friedrich Schmidt, really highlights the textures of the fur hat and clothing. What strikes you most about the materiality of this piece? Curator: The emphasis on texture is key. Consider the labor involved in producing such detail through etching. Also, think about the subject's clothing. Its luxury speaks to social status and consumption in 18th-century Berlin. Editor: So, the means of production and the materials themselves tell a larger social story? Curator: Precisely. Schmidt transforms Hirsch into a commodity, showcasing both artisanal skill and the subject’s place within a specific economic system. Editor: I see how examining the materials reframes the entire artwork!