Thomas ontvangt reisadvies van zijn vader 1771 - 1823

Curator: So, this engraving, "Thomas Receives Travel Advice from his Father," by Karl Heinrich Grünler, produced between 1771 and 1823… What are your initial thoughts on its production and materials? Editor: Well, it's clearly an engraving, so there's a whole process involved in its creation. I’m struck by how the simple lines manage to convey a real sense of character. It feels very… formal, almost staged. How do you see the choices the artist made when producing this? Curator: Think about the economic factors underpinning printmaking at this time. Who was buying these prints, and what social role did they play? Notice the crisp lines. These necessitate metal plate engraving. An artist of this period carefully choosing this particular technique to ensure mass reproduction reflects the values they associate with craft. Editor: That's a fascinating point. So, by choosing engraving, the artist isn't just depicting a scene but also engaging with the economics and availability of artistic mediums in a wider world? I hadn’t thought about it like that. Curator: Exactly. The act of commissioning such a work is inherently material. How does understanding the labour, material and method impact how you read this artwork? Editor: I suppose it shifts the focus away from simply admiring the artistry to considering who could afford it, who had access to the image, and the statement it made about social standing. Curator: Precisely. And from there, we can think about how this image would circulate in society and who this engraver sought to satisfy with their work. Editor: Thinking about this as a commercial product certainly makes me look at it differently! Thanks for pointing that out.