Soldaat gezeten op rotsblok met schild en lans 1753

Editor: Here we have Johann Georg Wille’s "Soldaat gezeten op rotsblok met schild en lans," made in 1753. It's an engraving printed on paper, and depicts a seated soldier with a spear. He seems weighed down by something, a melancholic figure. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: The material reality of this engraving speaks volumes. Consider the labour involved in creating those precise lines. Each mark is a deliberate act of production, transforming a blank copper plate into an image intended for mass consumption. We must consider who was buying these prints, and what role they played in 18th-century society. Editor: So you see it as a commodity, not just a piece of art? Curator: Absolutely. And it bridges high art and craft. Engraving was both a reproductive method, disseminating paintings to a wider audience, and an artistic skill. The image shows a soldier, yes, but it is also about how images of soldiers were circulated, consumed, and understood. Where were these prints displayed? How were they viewed? How does the reality of making the print change our perception of it? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about it in terms of production. I was caught up in the figure’s possible emotions. Curator: The material is inseparable from the meaning. The lines, the paper, the ink, the production – they tell a different kind of story, one of labour, distribution, and societal values. Editor: I see what you mean. I’ll definitely pay more attention to how art is made from now on! Thanks! Curator: A closer inspection of materiality offers so much insight. I hope this changed your perspective about similar pieces going forward.