Heraut en tamboer 1763 - 1804

Editor: This engraving, “Heraut en tamboer,” or "Herald and Drummer" by Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Unger, was created sometime between 1763 and 1804. It’s a detailed print depicting two figures in what appears to be military attire. What jumps out to me is the use of line, so clean and precise. What's your interpretation of the choices in material and process that brought this print to life? Curator: The very act of choosing engraving reveals much. This isn't merely about depicting a scene; it’s about the reproducible, democratized dissemination of imagery. Prints like these weren’t precious, unique objects; they were commodities. Who would have consumed this image and why? Editor: Well, considering it’s an image of a herald and a drummer, maybe it served a practical purpose. Were they trying to spread information? What would the public use these engravings for? Curator: Precisely. Consider the paper itself: its source, its cost. Was it mass-produced, a relatively new phenomenon at the time, impacting the accessibility of art and information? Also, look at the engraver's labor. Skilled handiwork, certainly, but labor nonetheless. How did the engraver perceive his role? As an artist? Artisan? Or something else entirely? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn't considered the socio-economic context of printmaking in such detail. How might that context influence how we perceive the artistry in this piece? Curator: It challenges the romantic notion of the solitary artist. Here, we see a material process embedded within a network of production and consumption. It highlights the labor involved, connecting this seemingly simple print to broader economic and social realities of its time. Do you think the print challenges the barrier between art and craft? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Understanding the means of production certainly changes the way I see the artwork. Thanks! Curator: And examining the social life of objects helps us think about art in a fuller context.