Study sheet_ Farmhouses 

Editor: We're looking at Francesco Londonio's "Study Sheet: Farmhouses." It seems to be a sketch using pencil, charcoal, and chalk on paper, and is currently held at the Städel Museum. I’m really drawn to the raw, almost industrial feeling in these studies. What captures your attention? Curator: For me, it’s the overt emphasis on process that stands out. Consider the social context, and that Londonio elevates these studies, focusing on humble architecture. These aren't grand estates; it's the built environment of agricultural labor. Look at how he renders the thatch – how does that material function for the people who interact with it every day? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn't considered the labor aspect so directly. So, by focusing on these "ordinary" buildings, Londonio is making a statement about… Curator: He's challenging traditional boundaries between high art and craft, pushing us to contemplate the value inherent in structures born from necessity and toil. How are the dwellings depicted; sturdy or temporary? Editor: They seem…utilitarian. Made for a purpose, not necessarily beauty, though there *is* a kind of beauty in their simplicity. Does that simplicity say something about available resources or the cultural values around building? Curator: Precisely. And think about the materials themselves – chalk, charcoal, pencil, readily available. Cheap. How does the choice of medium impact your reading? Is Londonio celebrating a "less is more" kind of ideal, showcasing skills, the act of art production over opulent art material? Editor: So it's not just the *subject* that’s rooted in everyday life, but the *means* of depicting it, too? This definitely gives me a fresh perspective. Curator: Exactly. Looking closer, you’ll see how process shapes content, labor shapes the landscape, and that changes how we consider "art," no?