Man met drank en dobbelstenen 1823 - 1873

Editor: So this print, "Man met drank en dobbelstenen" by Célestin Nanteuil, made sometime between 1823 and 1873 using ink on paper, has such a theatrical feel to it! The details in the man's clothing are amazing. What grabs your attention in this piece? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the material conditions surrounding its production. We see ink meticulously applied to paper to depict leisure, drink, and gambling, activities themselves tied to resource consumption and class distinctions in 19th-century society. Look at the detail, mass production made this image accessible. Editor: Accessible, yes, but does that detract from the artistic skill? Is it still 'high art' if widely available? Curator: That's exactly what I mean: this print challenges those boundaries. It implicates both artist and viewer in a system of production and consumption. Consider how the materials themselves—paper, ink, printing presses—became more widely available due to industrial advancements, thus changing art creation. Does the imagery –the figure's dress, the dice— also tell you something about that time's material culture and leisure? Editor: You’re right, seeing how art materials changed through time makes it easier to contextualize what’s being shown within the artwork, making it richer! Curator: Indeed. Looking closely at the "stuff" of art helps us unravel broader societal stories.