Surprise of the Fox 1860

Editor: This is "Surprise of the Fox" by Best et Cie, with no date. It's an engraving, and the fox's expression is quite startling! What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let’s consider the materiality of this image. Engravings like this one were often mass-produced. How does that inform our understanding of its cultural purpose and consumption? Editor: So, it was meant for a wider audience, not just the elite? Curator: Precisely! Think about the labor involved in creating the printing plates versus the final price. What kind of market are we talking about? What messages were being reproduced and circulated? Editor: Fascinating. I hadn't considered the social implications of its production. Curator: Exactly. The medium itself is the message, as they say! I’ve learned something new too.