Staande jonge vrouw met bril 1892 - 1928

Editor: This is Johannes Löhr's "Standing Young Woman with Glasses," a pencil drawing estimated to be from 1892 to 1928. I’m really struck by the simplicity of the materials, just pencil and paper, yet the artist captures such a strong presence. How would you interpret this work? Curator: The simplicity you notice is deceptive. A materialist approach considers how the apparent ease of this sketch obscures the labor involved, the artist’s training, and even the procurement of materials like the pencil and paper themselves. Editor: So, you're saying the *making* of the art is as important as the finished drawing itself? Curator: Precisely. And the social context. What kind of paper is it? Mass-produced? Handmade? The very *materiality* tells a story. Notice, too, the economy of line. What does that suggest about the artist's purpose? Editor: I see what you mean about the social context. The type of pencil or paper used then wasn't the same as now. What does it tell us about the status of drawing as a medium at this time, compared to painting or sculpture, for instance? It feels very intimate because it's a drawing. Curator: It challenges the established hierarchies within art. Löhr's choice elevates the everyday, challenging traditional notions of “high art” through a focus on the act of drawing itself. Editor: So it's not just a portrait, it's a statement about the value of drawing as a form of artistic labor? I guess that does make me rethink my initial assumptions! Curator: Exactly. Consider, too, how the means of production impact accessibility and the potential democratization of art. This drawing invites us to reconsider value – what we value, and why. Editor: I never thought of a simple pencil drawing as such a complex web of social and material relations. Thanks for broadening my view!