Shooting: Plate I 1769

Editor: This is "Shooting: Plate I" by William Woollett. It's hard to determine the exact date, but Woollett lived from 1735 to 1785. It depicts a hunting scene, and the etching seems incredibly detailed. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm drawn to the social context of this print. Consider the labor involved in its production and distribution. Who were the engravers, the paper makers, and the vendors? And who was the intended audience for such a print, reflecting ideas of leisure and consumption? Editor: So, it's less about the hunt itself and more about what the print represents in terms of class and labour? Curator: Precisely. How does the materiality of the print – the paper, the ink, the very act of reproducing it – contribute to its meaning and value within its historical moment? Editor: That's a completely different way of seeing it. Thanks for the insight! Curator: My pleasure. It's all about understanding how art is embedded within a network of production and consumption.