Thorn Bushes c. 19th century

Editor: This is Eugène Bléry's "Thorn Bushes", a print from the 19th century. The detail is incredible. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the printmaking process itself. Bléry's skill with etching transforms humble copper into a landscape for mass consumption. How does this democratized art affect our perception of nature and ownership? Editor: So, the medium changed our relationship to the subject matter? Curator: Precisely. This wasn't a unique painting only affordable to an elite patron. The labor of the artist becomes a vehicle for a wider audience to experience and, in a sense, possess this scene. Editor: That gives me a whole new perspective on landscape prints. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Consider also, what materials are used and how they circulate in society.