The Chapel, Haddon Hall 1902

Editor: This is "The Chapel, Haddon Hall," an etching by David Young Cameron, created in 1902. The intricacy of the etching lines makes it appear very detailed. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Considering its time, the focus is the *means* by which the artist produces this image of the Chapel. The printmaking process itself – the labor of etching, the chemical process, the consumption of materials - this is the key. Are we truly looking at the chapel itself or are we looking at a cultural moment captured by industrial means of reproduction? Editor: I see your point. So it is not really about the building itself? Curator: Exactly. The architectural detail is rendered through the laborious process of etching. The very *act* of making the print – the materials consumed, the time invested by the artist and potentially his workshop--speaks to the societal value placed upon representing these historical sites. Consider, too, how this print, multiplied, makes this image of Haddon Hall available for consumption. It goes from being a unique experience, to an item of production that participates in forming and reaffirming cultural value. Editor: It's interesting to think of the print as a consumer product that gives value to Haddon Hall as an idea. What kind of choices do you think the artist made, keeping in mind all of this? Curator: Cameron is deliberately engaging with industry to both preserve a historical landmark visually, but also making a business that participates and benefits from the commercial market. Consider the implications for labor in the art world itself – a division appears here of those with unique skill versus others working alongside mass production of images. Editor: That definitely sheds a new light on this print! Thank you. It helps contextualize not just the image, but the process by which it came into being and how its consumption helps perpetuate culture. Curator: Precisely. And hopefully this exercise of material interrogation enables one to bring into question established hierarchies concerning what is considered of merit when it comes to experiencing fine art.