Absinth 1900 - 1905

Editor: Here we have Alphonse Mucha's "Absinth," created between 1900 and 1905 using charcoal. The image has this overwhelming sense of weariness; the figure seems draped and heavy. What do you see in this piece, considering its creation and its reception? Curator: This drawing invites us to think about the role of materials and context in understanding societal ills. Mucha was very interested in advertising, right? Editor: Yes, absinthe posters. Curator: Exactly. So, he was participating in the commodity culture that arguably fuelled the very despair he depicts. How does the use of charcoal, a readily available and somewhat humble material, contrast with the perceived glamour often associated with Art Nouveau, or even absinthe consumption itself? Is it critique or just documenting it? Editor: So, you're saying the charcoal grounds it, makes it less romantic than say an oil painting? It draws attention to the mechanics of production instead of purely aesthetic pleasure. Curator: Precisely. Consider, too, who has access to the means of making and consuming, both the drawing and the drink. How does Mucha’s commercial work relate to drawings like these that show maybe more socially-charged commentary? Is the subject shown as a critique of the consequences of its consumption, made even more palpable by his choice of medium and stylistic representation of the scene? Editor: That’s a stark contrast! His popular posters celebrated mass culture. It makes this drawing feel like a look at its shadow side. Curator: Perhaps this juxtaposition reflects the inherent contradictions within consumer culture itself. One that's consumed, created, distributed. It’s all tied up together. Editor: This changes how I see Mucha. Thinking about the materiality gives another point of view! Curator: Indeed. Materiality offers such powerful perspectives.