Argand Lamp with Shade 1800 - 1900

Editor: This is a drawing, likely from between 1800 and 1900, of an Argand Lamp with Shade, currently held at the Met. It seems to be done in pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor. It has a somewhat incomplete, schematic feeling. What do you make of it? Curator: I’m drawn to the labor implied in this drawing. Note the emphasis on the individual components: the shade, the fuel reservoir, the burner. It invites us to consider the sheer quantity of artisanal work that went into producing luxury goods like this lamp during the period. Editor: Artisanal work, yes. But how does that challenge the usual understanding of "art?" Curator: Well, look at the choice of materials – humble pencil and watercolour, media often associated with preliminary sketches or amateur pursuits. Presenting this design in these materials elevates the status of the craft object and brings into question the traditional hierarchy between ‘high art’ and ‘decorative art'. It emphasizes the ‘making of’ as the crucial point. Editor: So, you're saying the artist is less concerned with the aesthetic result and more interested in the industrial process itself? Curator: Precisely. This drawing, more than just a representation, acts as a document of material culture and the economic realities of its time. What social stratum could afford such an item? What sort of workshops would produce this level of design? Think about the implications of mass production on designs like this. Does it democratize design or cheapen the craft? Editor: I see what you mean! Focusing on the means of production gives this drawing a whole new layer of meaning beyond just its aesthetic qualities. Thank you. Curator: It's fascinating how a simple drawing can open up discussions about labor, class, and the value we place on different kinds of making.