W.E. Gladstone c. 19th century

Editor: This is William Nicholson's print, "W.E. Gladstone." The stark contrasts are very striking. What can you tell me about the processes involved in creating this image? Curator: Well, examining the means of production is key. This looks like a woodcut, which suggests a deliberate, physical labor. The starkness reinforces this, doesn't it? Nicholson likely chose this method to convey a sense of authority, tying into Gladstone’s social status and perhaps even the historical context of industrial production. Editor: So, the *way* it's made is just as important as who it depicts? Curator: Exactly. The materiality and the labor involved shape our understanding. We might consider how the consumption of such an image was also tied to class and social standing at the time. Editor: I never thought about art that way, focusing on materials and labor. Curator: It changes how you see everything, doesn't it?