Reading of the Will c. 19th century

Editor: This is John Burnet's "Reading of the Will," and the expressions on everyone's faces are quite telling. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Considering its time, likely early 19th century, look at the labor involved in creating this print. The engraver’s skill to reproduce this scene for mass distribution is significant. How does the subject – the inheritance of property – reflect broader societal concerns about wealth and class? Editor: That's a really interesting way to consider it, focusing on the social context and production of the print itself. I was so caught up in the narrative! Curator: Indeed. It reminds us that art objects are also products of labor, deeply intertwined with the economic and social conditions of their time.