13 Vendémiaire 1835

Editor: This is Auguste Raffet's "13 Vendémiaire." It seems to depict a chaotic battle scene. What do you see in this piece, thinking about it from a material perspective? Curator: I see the lithographic process very clearly. The printmaking allows for dissemination of this image, shaping public opinion about the events depicted. What materials were used, and how does the production influence its reception? Editor: I suppose the accessibility of prints meant more people could see and interpret this scene of power. I hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! Considering the means of production shifts our focus from the heroic individual to the broader societal impact of art.