Album met landschappen door Edward Edwards 1748 - 1806

Editor: We are looking at *Album met landschappen door Edward Edwards*, dating from between 1748 and 1806. It's a mixed-media piece using paper and albumen-prints, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The cover has this amazing marbled pattern. What can you tell us about this artwork? Curator: This seemingly simple book cover offers a powerful reflection of class and the democratization of art during a period of immense social upheaval. Notice how the marbling, though decorative, also mimics natural stone or even topographical patterns. In a time when access to grand landscapes was largely limited to the aristocracy, this book cover perhaps gestures towards broader accessibility and even a kind of symbolic ownership of nature for emerging middle classes. Does the simulated natural pattern speak to larger questions of ownership, authenticity, and social mobility? Editor: That's fascinating, I never thought of it that way. The marbling effect now reads as almost aspirational, hinting at a lifestyle unavailable to most. What about the choice of such a muted colour palette? Curator: Exactly! The restrained palette further invites reflection. Consider that, while wealthy patrons commissioned vibrant artworks, Edwards' more subdued tones resonate with ideas of modesty and restraint, which were considered desirable virtues. Furthermore, consider the materials. While some artists had access to high quality supplies, others did not, thereby producing very different artwork based on economic means. Editor: So the choice of muted colours, the marbling mimicking landscape, and the more modest materials – they all point towards broader access and changing social dynamics surrounding art ownership? Curator: Precisely! It is a conversation starter. Every aspect of its creation reflects and interrogates existing social hierarchies. I’d love to think more about this album as an indicator of the changing societal role of the artist, wouldn’t you? Editor: Definitely! I’ll never look at a book cover the same way again. Thanks for this.