The Red Tether c. 19th century

Editor: This is "The Red Tether" by Mabel Royds. It's a woodcut, quite small. I’m immediately drawn to the starkness of the image, the contrasting colors, and that intriguing red line. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Royds’s printmaking process is key here. Consider the labor involved in carving the woodblock, applying the ink, and pressing the image. How does the materiality of the print—the paper, the ink—contribute to its meaning? Editor: So, it's not just about the image of the tethered animal, but the work that went into making it? Curator: Exactly. The red tether becomes a symbol of both constraint and the artist’s agency in manipulating materials. We might even consider the consumer's role in valuing this handmade object. Editor: I never thought about it that way! It really opens up a new perspective on the artwork. Curator: Indeed, by focusing on the processes of production and consumption, we gain a richer understanding of its cultural significance.