Design: Ovals, from Encyclopédie 1762 - 1777

Editor: Here we have Benoit Louis Prevost’s "Design: Ovals," an engraving and etching print from the late 18th century. What strikes me is the way it dissects the human head into geometric shapes; it's so clinical! How do you interpret this work? Curator: For me, this print isn't just about depicting heads. It is about the standardization of artistic production. We see the impact of Enlightenment ideals on art-- the attempt to dissect and quantify beauty, making artistic skill seemingly attainable through a scientific process. Editor: So, the focus is less on individual artistry and more on a system of production? Curator: Precisely. Think about the Encyclopédie itself: a vast undertaking aiming to compile all human knowledge. This print, included in it, reduces the human form to a series of reproducible steps. Consider the engraver’s labor, meticulously following the instructions to create multiples. Editor: It feels a little impersonal. Were artists really happy to have their creativity distilled like this? Curator: The market demand for prints like these was high, so artists and artisans were employed in fulfilling this demand.. Also, the accessibility of these images democratized artistic knowledge. Someone who couldn’t afford art lessons could, in theory, learn from these prints. Editor: So it’s not just about control, but also access. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Seeing it as part of this larger production system really shifts my perspective. Curator: Exactly. By considering the material conditions and the labor involved, we understand the social function of art in the 18th century in a new light. Editor: Thanks, I learned that paying attention to the creation and distribution of art objects allows for a new and enriched view.