Ved kisten 1862

Editor: This is "Ved kisten," or "By the coffin," a lithograph print made in 1862 by Adolph Kittendorff. There's a stillness in the image, even with several figures present. What immediately grabs me is the stark depiction of labor inherent in mourning rituals – the making of wreaths, the carrying of the coffin. How does that strike you? Curator: I see it similarly. Look closely at the texture created by the lithographic process. The roughness, the density of the ink—these choices highlight the work involved in both creating the print and performing grief. The print becomes an artifact mirroring the tangible labor of mourning. Do you notice the contrast between those actively engaged in these labors versus others? Editor: Yes, some seem to be simply observing or praying. The labor seems divided by gender, too. What does that suggest in terms of societal expectations and class? Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to think about the production of sorrow itself. What materials and practices are deployed to make grief 'visible' and acceptable? We must also remember this is a print, a multiple, meaning this image was intended for wider circulation – effectively democratizing the viewing of this cultural activity. Editor: So, the materiality of the lithograph itself, its production and distribution, emphasizes the accessibility and normalization of this type of grief ritual within that time? Curator: Exactly. The print, cheap to reproduce, allows us to reflect on the commodification of grief, if you will. It renders it into a digestible, consumable image for the bourgeois public. Did you find this reflection insightful? Editor: Definitely! It’s easy to overlook the implications of the physical process behind these images, but focusing on labor and distribution really contextualizes the work. Curator: It shifts the focus away from simply sentiment, allowing a deeper understanding of social practices around death in the 19th century.