Det store Lod. 1815 - 1816

Editor: This is "Det store Lod," or "The Great Lottery," an engraving by J.F. Clemens from around 1815. It’s housed here at the SMK. I’m struck by the contrast between the refined lines of the engraving and the chaotic scene depicted. What's your read on it? Curator: As a materialist, I’m drawn to the labor and the process involved in creating such a detailed print. Engraving, especially on this scale, demanded skilled artisans. What does it tell us about the availability of such craftsmanship during this era? Beyond the skill of production, how do the economics of printmaking - its capacity for reproduction and distribution – impact this work’s meaning? Editor: That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought about that. The print itself becomes part of the 'lottery', doesn’t it, widely disseminated for consumption. But how does that tie in with what’s happening in the scene? Curator: Well, consider the social context. This lottery represents a kind of speculative capitalism. Fortunes were won and lost. It highlights how objects, even experiences, were being commodified. And that little winged figure… Editor: …Balancing atop that wheel thing? Curator: Precisely. Think of it in terms of precarious labor. The print captures a moment of social and economic upheaval. And I can’t help but consider the engraver's labour in relation to that societal unrest; the relationship between "high art" and craft becomes blurred in that context. Editor: So you're suggesting the material process and its inherent accessibility comment on the social frenzy of the time? That the print itself becomes part of this system of risk and reward it portrays? Curator: Exactly. The print becomes a commodity reflecting a commodity culture. Editor: Wow, I’ll never look at an engraving the same way again! Thanks for your perspective! Curator: And thank you! It's easy to get lost in the aesthetics; remembering the means of production keeps the analysis grounded.