Church in Brattle Square 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Sidney L. Smith's "Church in Brattle Square", an etching. The detail in the architecture and the street scene is impressive, but I'm curious about the labor involved in creating such intricate lines. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The etching process itself is key. The artist's labor becomes tangible through the corrosive action of acid on the metal plate. Consider the social context. Who was consuming these images and what kind of labor underpinned their production? Editor: So, the value isn't just in the artistic skill, but also in understanding the whole system of production and consumption surrounding the image? Curator: Precisely. It reveals a network of materials, labor, and exchange that shaped artistic practice in the 19th century. Editor: That gives me a completely different way to appreciate the artwork. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's about seeing art as a product of material conditions, not just aesthetic choices.