Adam Smith (1735-1799) 1787

Editor: Here we have James Tassie's "Adam Smith," a small-scale cameo. It has a very clean, almost industrial feel despite being a portrait. What strikes you about the piece? Curator: The material, likely glass paste, is key. Tassie industrialized cameo production, moving it from elite craft to wider consumption. How does this shift affect our understanding of portraiture and status? Editor: So, the value shifts from the subject to the means of production? Curator: Precisely. Consider the implications for both the portrayed – Adam Smith, the economist – and the audience. The act of making art becomes a study on labor itself. Editor: That’s a fascinating take. It really recontextualizes the whole artwork. Curator: Indeed, by examining the materials and production, we understand art as a reflection of economic and social systems.