Onion Woman c. 19th century

Editor: This is William James Smith’s "Onion Woman." It's quite small, but the etching captures a somber mood. What stands out to you? Curator: Consider the etching process itself. The labor, the acid, the deliberate mark-making. This was then multiplied, consumed. What does the artist's choice of such a labor-intensive medium say about the subject, a presumed seller of onions? Editor: It elevates her, perhaps? By immortalizing this laborious existence? Curator: Precisely. The means of production reflect and arguably dignify her own labor. A poignant commentary on the economic realities of the time. I find it remarkable how labor and materiality intertwine here. Editor: I never thought about the process relating to the subject of the art itself, but it makes perfect sense. Thanks!