The Salutation 1807

Curator: This is John Flaxman's "The Salutation," currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: It strikes me as stark, almost aggressively simplified. The lines are so thin, barely there. Curator: Flaxman was known for his neoclassical style, a reaction against the ornate baroque. He emphasizes line over color, reducing form to its most essential. What about the means of production? Editor: Well, the printmaking process allowed for wide dissemination of these images, influencing public taste and religious sentiment on a broad scale. It democratized art. Curator: Indeed. The materiality of the print itself, the cheap paper, the easily reproducible lines, speaks to a desire for accessibility. How interesting, isn't it? Editor: It's true, the medium becomes part of the message, shifting the focus from elite patronage to the everyday consumer. Something to consider.