Der Heilige Antonius mit dem Kind 

Editor: This delicate watercolor and chalk drawing, "Der Heilige Antonius mit dem Kind" by Martin Johann Schmidt, shows Saint Anthony with the Christ Child, framed by what looks like an elaborate architectural setting. It feels very Rococo to me, light and ornamental. What strikes you most about it? Curator: The drawing presents us with an interesting dilemma: is this drawing meant to *be* the work, or to be preparatory for something else? The architecture, drawn in a manner suggesting great ornateness and lavish material expenditure—did such a thing truly exist, and for whom? The labor involved would have been immense, regardless of this artwork's purpose. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. So, you're saying we should look at the labor and resources that *could* have gone into a project like this? Curator: Precisely. Notice how the saint and child are secondary to the grand construction of the frame. What materials were readily available to Schmidt? Were they locally sourced, or did they need to be traded from far away, creating webs of social connections through commerce and/or enslavement? Editor: So, you're shifting the focus from the spiritual content to the practical elements surrounding the *potential* construction depicted. Curator: I’m suggesting the *implications* of the image supersede any perceived holy interpretation. The act of creation, of procuring, building, and consumption are what give it meaning for me. How might the viewer react if confronted with these factors alone? What new narratives arise from *that* understanding? Editor: That's given me a lot to think about, especially regarding the consumption aspect within religious iconography and presentation! I see the "saint" in a very different light. Curator: Good. Challenging assumptions about artistry, the making of, the materiality of… that’s where real investigation starts!