S. Matthew c. 18th century

Editor: This is Johann Georg Bergmüller's "S. Matthew". It looks like an engraving. The detail in the cross-hatching is incredible! What can you tell me about it? Curator: The density of lines speaks to the labor involved. Consider the social context: who commissioned this? Was it mass-produced, contributing to a wider consumption of religious imagery? The material itself, the paper and ink, tells a story of production and dissemination. Editor: So, you're seeing this less as a singular artistic vision, and more as a product of its time? Curator: Precisely. The image's value is tied to its role in a larger system of belief and how that belief was materially spread through society. The distribution and consumption of the image would be interesting to study. Editor: I never considered it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Examining the means of production offers a fresh perspective.