Saint Elizabeth Carrying Her First-born Son to the Church 1845 - 1855

Editor: We’re looking at "Saint Elizabeth Carrying Her First-born Son to the Church," a pencil and ink drawing created by Ludwig Emil Grimm between 1845 and 1855. The sheer number of figures is striking. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: It's the materiality of this sketch itself. Pencil and ink are readily available, inexpensive materials. Grimm isn’t using precious metals or oils. This speaks volumes about accessibility and perhaps Grimm’s intent to depict a very human, relatable scene. How do you see the use of line contributing to this? Editor: I see that the lightness of the pencil lines gives a sort of dreamlike or fleeting quality to a presumably historical event. It feels immediate but distant. Curator: Exactly. It’s about the process of creation, the hand of the artist at work. He is representing the labour of motherhood, the historical context of religious practice, and literally, the *labor* of creating the piece itself. The sketch as artifact emphasizes the physical and economic conditions of its making and those depicted. What do you notice about the people's clothing? Editor: It seems quite simple and unadorned, suggesting a humbler social class. Curator: Precisely. It begs us to think about the conditions of everyday life and devotional practice during that time. The use of inexpensive materials to depict humble lives makes you think about class and representation. Editor: It’s fascinating how the choice of materials shapes our understanding. I’ll definitely be looking at art with a more critical eye towards process and context from now on. Curator: I'm glad to hear that. Thinking about the artwork’s origins and manufacture helps reveal so much more of its cultural significance.