Tien landschappen van verschillend formaat 1874

Editor: Here we have Auguste Delâtre’s "Ten Landscapes of Different Sizes," created in 1874. It’s a fascinating collection of miniature scenes printed on a single sheet. There's almost a scrapbook-like quality to the composition. What do you see in this piece, viewed through a historical lens? Curator: Well, immediately I'm drawn to the presentation itself. These "landscapes" aren't framed and presented as individual works, but rather gathered together. This challenges the increasing emphasis on the art object’s singularity that developed throughout the 19th century, questioning its market value and preciousness. Editor: That's interesting. It’s almost anti-establishment. Curator: Precisely! This piece arrives when the print market was exploding, and etching societies were founded across Europe to promote the medium as original art rather than reproductive. But Delâtre gives us this… array. How does it relate to the rising public interest in photography? Editor: Oh, like contact sheets with multiple exposures, creating a story through composition? Curator: Yes, in essence! This was after all the period of rapid technological advancements and changes in visual culture. Think about how quickly photography altered how landscapes were consumed. Delâtre engages this democratizing visual trend, almost giving viewers a menu of potential scenes. Does that resonate with you? Editor: It does! It makes me think about how artists negotiate shifting socio-cultural contexts. Thank you, I really see it differently now. Curator: And I'm struck by how much Delâtre's approach encourages us to reconsider our understanding of "landscape" in a time of massive change.