Illustration til "Hvorledes Dagen gaaer for Lille Lise" 1863

Editor: Here we have Lorenz Frølich's 1863 print, "Illustration til 'Hvorledes Dagen gaaer for Lille Lise'", done with ink and woodcut on paper. There's a certain tenderness to it, the way the artist renders this child figure. What jumps out at you? Curator: Well, given its means of production - this image as a woodcut, then multiplied through printing - I'm most interested in the intended audience. It's clearly meant to be reproduced and distributed widely. Who was accessing images like this in 1863? And how did these depictions of idealized childhood reflect, or perhaps dictate, social values and expectations? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't considered it in terms of mass production. So you're saying the material conditions of its creation directly impact our understanding of the artwork’s purpose? Curator: Precisely. Think about the labor involved. Who carved the wood? How skilled were they? How does that labour feed into what's ultimately consumed as an image of simple pleasure and childlike innocence? Was this kind of printing affordable to a large segment of society or only available to wealthier families who wanted a taste of manufactured domestic bliss? Editor: So, by examining the printmaking process itself, you are uncovering a complex story about Victorian society and consumer culture. That really changes how I see the artwork, it is no longer just about childhood, but also the labour and resources to spread the picture to its viewers! Curator: Exactly. Focusing on materiality and production allows us to question seemingly straightforward imagery. There are levels of labour hidden beneath it all. Editor: Thank you. Thinking about art in terms of production and audience is definitely something I’ll take with me.