Colophon from the portfolio "The Transformations of God" 1922

Curator: This colophon by Ernst Barlach comes from his portfolio, "The Transformations of God." It’s fascinating to see how the means of production are highlighted, don’t you think? Editor: It is, it’s an interesting choice for him to make. What strikes you most about the way it was produced? Curator: The emphasis on the hand-printing in Japan and the binding in Berlin points to the global networks involved in art production at the time. The materiality, the paper and binding, are as important as the image itself. Editor: So, it’s about acknowledging the labor and the processes that go into creating art? Curator: Precisely! Barlach highlights these typically invisible aspects of artistic creation. It forces us to consider the social context and the economic systems that enable the making of art. Editor: I never thought of it that way before. It really changes how you see the work. Curator: Indeed! Materiality shapes meaning, and the means of production are never neutral.