Bookseller and Author Possibly 1784

Editor: This is "Bookseller and Author" by Thomas Rowlandson, probably from 1784. It’s a print combining etching and watercolor on paper. I’m immediately struck by the caricature-like quality of the figures and how busy the composition feels. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, looking through a materialist lens, the layering of techniques - the etching providing a reproducible base and the watercolor adding unique tonal qualities – speaks to the burgeoning print market of the late 18th century and the demand for affordable art. Rowlandson wasn't just making art, he was manufacturing a commodity. Do you think the chosen materials democratized or cheapened the artistic process? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the "manufacturing" aspect. I suppose the printmaking allowed wider distribution, making it more accessible. But, does the reliance on print diminish the skill involved? Curator: Not necessarily diminish, but certainly redirect it. Consider the paper itself – its sourcing, the labor involved in its production. Rowlandson’s skill wasn't just in artistic creation but also in navigating and utilizing the existing infrastructure of production and consumption. How does that overcrowded bookshelf in the background speak to the burgeoning print market? Editor: It reinforces your point about accessibility and affordability through high production volume, indicating rising demand for the books being created at this time. All those spines, and a worker reaching for more copies up a ladder. The use of caricature to emphasize what is a market interaction helps deliver its satire to its viewers. Curator: Precisely. The labor and the materials of book production, along with their social circulation, are as crucial to understanding this artwork as the artistic "genius" of Rowlandson. This piece gives an interesting insight into Georgian era capitalism. Editor: This materialist reading has given me so much to think about in terms of production and access; it really transforms my understanding of the piece. Curator: Indeed, looking at the material and its production context illuminates the social landscape it reflects.