Gesp 'Draak' c. 20th century

Curator: This is ‘Gesp ‘Draak’’, a carved wooden ornament from around the 20th century. The Art Nouveau style is pretty clear with those swirling, organic forms, don’t you think? Editor: It definitely has that characteristic curvilinear design. What really strikes me is the meticulous craftsmanship in the carving; how might this object’s materiality and mode of production inform our understanding of its cultural context? Curator: Precisely! We can view the labor involved. Wood carving wasn't exactly a high art form, but its application here elevates it. It begs the question, who was the craftsman? Was it mass-produced, thus commodified, or meticulously hand-carved by an individual artist, indicating a luxury good? Editor: So, by examining the material and technique, we can delve into the object's economic and social implications. Do you see other indicators about it? Curator: Consider also the availability of the material – the type of wood used tells us about trade routes and accessibility to certain resources at the time. Moreover, the subject matter of the dragon. Was this simply a design choice for aesthetic appeal, or might the dragon hold particular significance within the consumer's cultural identity, reflecting imperialistic or colonial dynamics through the appropriation of oriental symbols? Editor: That's fascinating, I hadn’t considered those implications. Thinking about the dragon and wood used makes me wonder if these items were linked. Is it safe to say that ornament, like this Art Nouveau brooch, provides us with concrete clues to better appreciate labor, materials and consumerism? Curator: Absolutely. This brooch showcases how so-called 'decorative art' blurs the line between artistry, craft, labor and commodity and gives concrete hints to better appreciate the cultural significance, thus leading us to have conversations beyond mere aesthetics.