Cow Pastured on Bank of River c. 18th century

Editor: This is "Cow Pastured on Bank of River" by Martin von Molitor. It looks like an etching and the line work is incredible. I'm curious, what stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the labor involved in producing this etching. Think of the repetitive, physical process of creating those lines. The material reality of the copper plate and the artist's hand become central. Editor: So you're seeing the work as a product of its making. Curator: Precisely. And what of the pastoral scene itself? It idealizes rural labor, while the artwork embodies it. A tension exists between representation and material reality, wouldn't you say? Editor: That's a cool connection I hadn't considered. Thanks for pointing that out.