Otter c. 1873

Editor: This is Karl Bodmer's "Otter," a small etching. It feels so immediate, like a quick sketch. What's your perspective on it? Curator: It is interesting to consider this etching as the product of labor. The process involved biting the plate with acid, the physical act of inking, and the social context of printmaking and its distribution. It challenges the notion of the singular artistic genius. Editor: So, you are saying it's more about production than expression? Curator: Precisely. We must examine the socio-economic systems that allowed for its creation and dissemination. What was the intended audience, and how did its consumption shape the meaning of the artwork? Editor: That’s a different way to look at art, thank you.