Monks Merrymaking c. 1804

Editor: This is John Cranch’s "Monks Merrymaking." The figures are so expressive, and the oil paint has a real richness. What do you make of the scene here? Curator: Note how Cranch uses readily available materials to depict a scene of consumption and leisure. The roughly hewn table, the earthenware bowl, even the monks' robes, all speak to a specific economic reality and localized production. Editor: So, it's less about the narrative and more about...the stuff? Curator: Exactly! Consider the labor involved in producing the wine they’re drinking, the crafting of the glass. These are the material conditions that enable this "merrymaking." Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. It gives a totally different context to the image. Curator: Indeed, shifting focus to production and consumption reveals the socio-economic underpinnings. Editor: Fascinating. Thanks!