The Faggot Seller c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have "The Faggot Seller," artist unknown, showing a woman carrying a large bundle of wood. I'm struck by how the etching emphasizes the weight she's carrying. What can you tell me about the materials used here and their significance? Curator: Consider the wood itself, a basic resource transformed through labor for consumption. The printmaking process, likely etching, allows for mass production, making images like these accessible. How does the medium influence our understanding of the subject’s social position and the accessibility of art? Editor: That makes me think about the work involved in creating both the wood and the print, and how that labor is often invisible. Thanks! Curator: Precisely! It highlights the economic realities embedded in both the depicted scene and the artwork's production.