Illustration LXXVIII c. 16th century

Editor: This is Illustration LXXVIII, by an anonymous artist. It seems to be some kind of woodcut or engraving. What strikes me is the depiction of labor, like the figure drawing water from the well. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The focus on labor is key. Notice the raw materiality of the woodcut itself – the lines, the grain. It speaks to a process of making, a kind of labor in itself. How might the creation of such an image for mass production affect our understanding of art versus craft? Editor: That’s interesting. So the way it was made is just as important as what is shown? Curator: Precisely. It challenges our perception of art as something precious, instead highlighting its connection to everyday production and consumption. Editor: I never thought about art that way. Thanks!