Bag bondehaven 1886

Editor: This etching, "Bag bondehaven," created in 1886 by Edvard Petersen, depicts a young girl shepherding ducks. The fine lines of the etching give it a delicate, almost wistful feel. What can you tell me about the materials and production choices here? Curator: Looking at Petersen's choice of etching, a process involving acid to cut lines into a metal plate, we have to consider its impact on the final image. Etching, unlike, say, painting, allowed for the reproduction of images; could reach a wider audience. What does that suggest about Petersen's intentions here, the labour invested in making this scene accessible? Editor: It seems that it could also be an expression of Realism with this goal, as opposed to just aesthetics. To offer an unromantic view of country life and maybe… democratize it, so that all could have an intimate access? Curator: Exactly! Think about the subject matter - not a grand landscape, but an ordinary moment. This connects to Realism, but through etching, this everyday labor of a child becomes a commodity. The materiality challenges the Romantic, idealized vision of rural life often depicted at the time. What do you make of that contrast? Editor: The accessibility created through printmaking clashes interestingly with the labour represented. It's like the process itself emphasizes the working class by making it more widespread. I learned a lot, thank you. Curator: And the accessibility brought to art thanks to your sharp insights is quite illuminating!