Summer c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Charles-Joseph Natoire's print, "Summer." It's got this playful scene of cherubs, rendered in a delicate, almost etched style. I’m curious, what story do you think this print is telling? Curator: Focusing on the material aspect, I see a commentary on labor through the cherubs' agricultural tools. Consider how the printmaking process itself - etching and engraving - mirrors the labor of tilling the soil. How does Natoire elevate agricultural work through this meticulous process? Editor: So, by representing these cherubs with tools, he's linking the idea of labor to a sort of idealized, almost divine process? Curator: Precisely. The contrast between the delicate medium and the representation of agricultural labor invites us to question the social values assigned to different forms of work. What might Natoire be implying about the consumption of art versus the production of food? Editor: That’s a fascinating connection. It makes me see the print as more than just a pretty image; it is a reflection on production itself. Curator: Indeed, considering the printmaking process deepens our understanding of its meaning.