A Cornfield 

Editor: Here we have Peter De Wint's "A Cornfield," a watercolor piece. The human figures seem dwarfed by the landscape, a bit melancholic even. What strikes you about it? Curator: The materiality speaks volumes. De Wint's choice of watercolor, its ready availability and ease of use, democratized landscape painting. He’s depicting labor; can we ignore the social context of agricultural work in 19th century Britain and the commodification of rural life? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. So, the medium itself connects to the work's subject? Curator: Precisely. The accessibility of watercolor mirrors the availability, and exploitation, of labor. And the landscape itself? Is it romanticized, or a stark depiction of agricultural production? Editor: It’s both beautiful and, now that you mention it, unsettling. I’ll definitely consider the materials and their historical context more. Curator: A worthwhile exercise. Examining the means of production is crucial to understanding any artwork.