Feasts of the Sons of Job; verso: Mocking of Christ c. 15th century

Curator: This woodcut print, "Feasts of the Sons of Job; verso: Mocking of Christ," presents a stark scene, and the linear quality of the printmaking process really emphasizes the weight of the cross and the expressions of the figures. How does its visual style strike you? Editor: It feels very raw and immediate. I'm curious about the choice of woodcut – what does it contribute to our understanding of the work, especially considering its religious subject matter? Curator: The roughness of the woodcut is key. The process itself – the carving, the inking, the pressing – speaks to a kind of labor and mass production. This wasn't about creating a precious object, but about disseminating information and belief more widely. Editor: So, the very materiality is part of the message? The means of production as a form of storytelling in itself? Curator: Exactly. Think about the audience for whom these prints were made. Woodcuts were relatively inexpensive, allowing for broader access compared to, say, illuminated manuscripts. It democratizes religious imagery, bringing it closer to the everyday lives of the faithful. Editor: I never thought about the economics of art production in this context before. Thanks, that's very insightful. Curator: Likewise, it's useful to be reminded of these basics.