Vijf proefdrukken voor de Almanack for 1887 before 1886

Editor: Here we have "Vijf proefdrukken voor de Almanack for 1887," made with drawing and watercolor. The illustrations are so delicate and charming. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I notice first the starkness of the print’s materiality, its creation explicitly tied to mass production. It challenges this Romantic-style imagery. Consider how these were made – not singular artistic visions, but a crafted, reproducible product destined for widespread consumption in an almanac. It transforms a scene of everyday leisure into a commodity. Editor: A commodity? So, are you suggesting it critiques this seemingly innocent, even idyllic, portrayal of childhood and family? Curator: Exactly. Who had access to these almanacs, to this vision of leisure? How does its method of distribution contrast with other works that are considered "fine art" and, therefore, were afforded other types of circulation? I also ask: What labor was involved in creating these multiple prints and bringing them into circulation? The "genre-painting" subject matter is tied to the commercial context for the masses to view, purchase, and display. It's not just a drawing or watercolor; it's evidence of a cultural and economic system. Editor: That's fascinating! I never considered how its creation as a printed material alters its message. Now that I’m thinking about it, what does the use of color mean? Curator: The color further suggests mass appeal; it heightens this print's accessibility. However, its limited application also suggests careful, conscious manufacturing with cost in mind. The use of line drawing gives the print detail, but minimizes labor needed to execute many different pages of this work. Editor: It’s really interesting to consider those restraints of material. Thanks. Curator: The focus on its context adds new dimensions of what to look for and to how value is assigned to art in the making.