Gedecoreerde vaas before 1890

Editor: Here we see “Gedecoreerde vaas,” or “Decorated Vase,” created before 1890, attributed to Britton & Rey. It seems to be a photograph in an old sketchbook. The book's aged look, with the stained pages, really emphasizes its history. I wonder about the kind of labor involved in producing this image and binding it. What catches your eye? Curator: Considering this image through a materialist lens, I immediately think about the production processes at play. We’re not just looking at the vase itself, but also the making of the photograph, the sketchbook, and the implications of their intertwined existence. The paper, clearly not mass-produced given its texture and staining, suggests a different kind of labor compared to industrial printing. What does that tell us about its value, both then and now? Editor: So, you’re focusing on the sketchbook as an object and its relation to the depicted vase? Curator: Exactly! The vase, carefully photographed and preserved within this homemade sketchbook, is elevated beyond its function as a simple object. Think about the choices made in documenting this specific vase, using specific photographic techniques available at the time. Why photograph this? What cultural or artistic value was being placed on it? Editor: That's a great point! I was so focused on the vase as a piece of art that I didn't really consider the sketchbook's role as part of the whole piece. Curator: And beyond that, we need to consider the bookbinders, the photographers, and even the people who made the vase in the first place! Editor: Now I am really wondering how to trace each material, its origin and processing… Thank you. I am looking at this with fresh eyes now! Curator: Materiality allows us to unpack complex economic and artistic exchanges; it’s a fruitful area for deeper research.