Coast (La cote) 

Editor: So, this is "Coast" by Gustave Leheutre, it's an etching. It looks so peaceful and mundane, with the people enjoying the beach and the boats far away. What do you see in it? Curator: Well, the process of etching itself is interesting here. The labor involved in creating this image is considerable, biting the image into the metal plate with acid. And consider the socio-economic aspect. Who has access to beaches, leisure, materials like this? Was this art for the bourgeoisie perhaps? Editor: That’s interesting, I didn’t consider it from the perspective of labor involved in its making. So the choice of etching as a medium says something about accessibility? Curator: Precisely! Etching, unlike painting, allows for multiple reproductions. Consider this in contrast to unique artworks. Prints democratize images; potentially more people have access to this "Coast". Were prints displayed at home? Used to inform broader groups of people of current events and leisure opportunities? Editor: So the etching allowed a wider distribution and possibly impacted taste making? Curator: It could well have contributed. Consider how mass production through etching challenged traditional notions of “high art," normally one-off paintings made with a specific patron in mind. Are we considering it differently because it is a print and not a painting? Does this change its social purpose? Editor: Yes! I hadn’t considered that medium dictates social function! Thanks. Curator: Likewise, seeing your immediate impression about the piece really shifted my thinking about its social impact as well.