Stronk in het etsatelier 1890 - 1900

Editor: Here we have Willem Witsen's "Stronk in het etsatelier", a gelatin silver print from around 1890-1900. There's something very industrial about it. He's pictured working, and it makes me consider the artist not just as a creator but as a worker. What stands out to you in this image? Curator: It's a fantastic question! The materiality jumps out at me: the oily texture of the gelatin silver, the robust equipment, the very hands doing the work. We should ask ourselves, what is Witsen telling us about artistic production itself? The etsatelier, a workshop. Is it merely a backdrop, or is it the very subject? Editor: I hadn't thought of that, the etsatelier *as* the subject! Is it elevated because he’s in it, making art, or does its workaday function sort of ‘ground’ the artistry? Curator: Exactly! The late 19th century witnessed increasing mechanization and the rise of factories. Here, we see an artist seemingly embracing industrial processes in his craft. It begs the question: is this the artist co-opting the factory, or vice versa? Also consider, who was "Stronk"? A student, colleague, fellow laborer? The image subtly challenges the romantic idea of the solitary genius. It brings making art into the world of making things. Editor: So, it's about democratizing art, making it less precious and more like skilled labor. Thank you, that shifted my perspective on the photo completely. Curator: And for me as well. Paying closer attention to materials, the means of production, opens avenues to understand better how art is valued, and who it is for.