The Route near a Precipice 1779

Editor: This is Ferdinand Kobell's "The Route near a Precipice." The stark contrasts between light and shadow are so striking. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the etching technique; the labor and the tools involved. What social class had the time and resources for leisure like this? How does the printmaking process democratize or limit access to this landscape? Editor: That's a great point. It makes me consider who the intended audience was, and how they would have engaged with it. Curator: Exactly! We can think about the artist's position in the means of production. The market for prints was growing, so how does this influence his subject matter and style? Editor: It’s fascinating how a landscape print opens up questions about production and consumption. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, a materialist approach reveals hidden stories.