Last Judgment c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Daniel Hopfer’s "Last Judgement", a dense print, teeming with figures. I'm really struck by the medium, the fine lines and the process of etching. What can you tell me about its materiality and its impact? Curator: Considering Hopfer’s process is key. Etching, a relatively new technique at the time, allowed for mass production. How do you think the accessibility of such imagery would have affected its audience's understanding of religious concepts and perhaps, social hierarchies? Editor: So, the means of production shaped its reception? That's fascinating! I hadn’t considered the social implications of making religious imagery more widely available. Curator: Precisely. And understanding the material reality of art production opens up avenues for interpreting its cultural impact. Editor: This makes me rethink the relationship between art, labor, and audience. Curator: Indeed!