Reward of Merit 1828

Editor: So, this is John Cheney’s "Reward of Merit" from 1828, made using engraving. It kind of reminds me of a very formal dance taking place in what looks like a small town. What strikes you about this print? Curator: What grabs me immediately is the labour involved in producing such a detailed engraving, especially in the 19th century. Each line etched onto the plate by hand… We need to consider this not just as a decorative image, but also as a material object reflecting particular production processes, almost craftwork rather than high art. Editor: So, the emphasis is on how it was made rather than what it depicts? Curator: Exactly. Consider what it meant to produce and consume such an object in 1828. What kind of workshops were involved? What skills were valued? Was this for mass consumption, or something more exclusive? And of course, what is the "reward" it talks about? Was this some marketing technique used to attract more audience? What were the economic conditions that enabled the creation and circulation of these prints? Editor: I never really thought about the labor involved like that, the actual making. It really shifts my perspective on the whole piece. It stops feeling like a simple decorative artwork. Curator: Indeed. By examining the materials, the process, and the economic context, we can better understand the social role of art during this period. Editor: I see it now. Thank you, I've learned to appreciate not just the visual representation but the artistic implications too.