Consoles met ramskop en medaillon after 1771

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this drawing by Gottlieb Friedrich Riedel, entitled "Consoles met ramskop en medaillon," created after 1771. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: My initial impression is lightness. A tentative, airy elegance. The kind you’d sketch quickly on a summer day, dreaming of opulent rooms. Does that ram's head not look somewhat surprised by the cherub nestled within the medallion? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the social context in which these consoles were envisioned. The very act of designing decorative elements, consoles in this case, implies a certain level of societal privilege. These were meant to adorn spaces, reflecting wealth and taste, yes? Editor: Precisely. I picture the artist flipping through volumes of ancient designs, the pencil light in his hand as he transforms cold marble into something breathing. There is a sensuality to the scrollwork I can’t resist. And a clear connection between "high" art and skilled craftsmanship in these functional objects. Curator: The materials themselves are significant here. The drawing, done in pencil, acts as a kind of blueprint for potential creations in materials like wood or stone. The shift from paper to, say, carved marble transforms this initial sketch into something of higher economic worth. Editor: But hasn't this sketch its worth as is? It contains an intimacy of thought the finished object lacks, a hint of imperfection. Imagine a workshop buzzing with the noise of chisels translating this into a grand piece—yet isn’t there something appealingly approachable in the intimacy of this simple sketch? It feels like we are looking into the designer's mind! Curator: It speaks to the interconnectedness of various creative processes. Even the finest marble sculpture has its origin in an artist's initial idea. How are labor practices connected to value then, when comparing sketchbook and sculpture? Editor: That's the question, isn't it? This glimpse into the genesis of form makes me consider the countless anonymous artisans whose skilled labor turned these ideas into tangible objects. Curator: Absolutely, considering those connections exposes how our relationship with design, value, and labor influence consumption, doesn't it? Thank you. Editor: Yes, indeed! That’s a thought.