Tafels met schuifbaar blad 1780 - 1807

Editor: So, this is "Tafels met schuifbaar blad," or "Tables with a sliding top," a drawing from between 1780 and 1807 by Elias Strasser, rendered in pencil on paper. I’m really struck by the almost clinical precision of the lines. It feels very technical. What stands out to you when you look at this work? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the labor inherent in this kind of meticulous draftsmanship. These aren't just casual sketches; they're intensely detailed plans, almost like instructions. Consider the role of drawings like this in 18th-century furniture production. Editor: So it’s about the broader industry? Curator: Exactly. Someone painstakingly created this drawing. What level of craftmanship and time are embedded in it, compared to the furniture makers who then interpreted these designs in wood, metal, and finish? It challenges this divide between artist and artisan. Where does high art end and labor begin? Editor: That's fascinating! So you see the drawing itself as a product of labor, rather than just a preparatory step. Curator: Precisely! And furthermore, what does its linear style tell us about the design aesthetic of the period, about the increasing industrialization that valued precision and repeatability? Editor: It makes you think about who these tables were intended for and the lifestyle implied by the design. It's more than just a drawing; it's about commerce and taste. Curator: Precisely, by observing this drawing, we gain valuable understanding of 18th century design production in more ways than just it being a design for furniture. Editor: I learned a great deal. I’m keen to now examine materiality, means of production, and how labor is conceptualized, even when it's not overtly depicted. Curator: Indeed. Looking at art with material conditions in mind enriches how we view creative activity.