Liggende bok en geitje Possibly 1791 - 1943

Editor: This drawing, entitled "Liggende bok en geitje," or "Reclining Buck and Goat Kid," attributed to Pieter Gerardus van Os, is rendered through drawing and printmaking techniques. What strikes me is how realistic the animals appear, almost like a snapshot of rural life. What stands out to you? Curator: Well, let’s think about the production of images like this in its time. Printmaking allowed for the mass production and distribution of images, reaching audiences beyond the elite. Before photography, this was a primary way for people to visualize and understand their world. So how did the commodification and distribution impact the perception and the status of “art”? Editor: That's a good point; I hadn’t thought about it that way. So, its value resides in its accessibility? Does the artist’s technique reinforce that idea? Curator: Precisely. Van Os wasn't just depicting animals; he was participating in a larger system of production and consumption. Note how realism flattens any single ‘aura’ or sublime ideal in favour of detail and availability. What sort of market might it have been produced for, given its subject? Editor: Perhaps aimed at the burgeoning middle class with an interest in agriculture and pastoral scenes. It seems very much tied to the economy and daily lives of the population. Curator: Exactly! These images normalize and promote particular ways of living and viewing nature. So considering this lens has really shifted my perspective; how about you? Editor: I'll definitely be thinking more about the materials and production surrounding artworks going forward, instead of only focusing on aesthetic appeal!