Portret van de vrouw van Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff, lezend aan een tafel 1873 - 1932

Editor: This is "Portrait of the Wife of Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff, Reading at a Table," made between 1873 and 1932 by Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff. It's a graphite and pencil drawing. There's a quiet, almost melancholic feel to it. I’m struck by how much the artist captured with such simple materials. What do you see in it? Curator: For me, this drawing speaks volumes about the artist's process and the social context of art creation. Look at the visible strokes, the texture of the paper itself, and how it contrasts with the delicate depiction of the woman. Do you think this informs how we value this work? Editor: In what way? Are you saying that its medium has implications on the artist’s skill, thus, increasing its aesthetic value? Curator: Absolutely. Steenhoff's choice of graphite and pencil, common materials at the time, democratizes the creation of art. It's no longer confined to the elite using expensive paints or sculptures requiring marble and bronze. Here, the emphasis shifts to the artist's skill, technique and labor in bringing the artwork to life using accessible material, rather than intrinsic value. Editor: So, focusing on materials encourages us to reconsider traditional hierarchies within the art world? Curator: Precisely. It blurs the lines between "high art" and craft by drawing our attention to production and consumption of affordable art. Editor: I hadn't considered that aspect before. Examining it through a materialist lens makes me think about art accessibility and challenges assumptions of worth! Curator: Indeed. Hopefully you’ve gained more insight on this artwork, including a materialist viewpoint that highlights art as part of the social, historical, and economic context.