Instead of Man Reading We Have the Bookworm 1830 - 1892

Christopher Pearse Cranch made this whimsical drawing, "Instead of Man Reading We Have the Bookworm," with pen and brown ink on paper. This was a relatively inexpensive and accessible process for artists to use in the 19th century. Notice how the artist makes skillful use of simple lines to create the figure of a bookworm nestled amongst a pile of books, engrossed in reading by candlelight. The materiality of ink and paper allows for fine detail. Cranch captures the texture of the bookworm's body and the pages of the books, creating a visual pun that blurs the line between the reader and the consumed material. This playful critique of intellectualism speaks volumes about the relationship between knowledge, labor, and consumption. Are we consuming information or is information consuming us? Cranch’s work reminds us of the intrinsic value of the artist’s hand, and challenges the hierarchy between craft, illustration, and fine art.