Reproductie van een landkaart door Pedro Reinel before 1895

Editor: So, this is a reproduction of Pedro Reinel’s map, created before 1895, using engraving on paper. The precision of the lines is really striking! How do you read this piece? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to consider the labor involved in its creation. Look at the painstaking engraving. The reproduction itself, its mechanical creation, brings up questions about accessibility of knowledge, and the societal role of maps. Before, information was a privilege; this map challenges the concept of information availability as well as skill. Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn’t considered the labor aspect so much. Were these maps considered a craft or an art at the time? Curator: It's a complicated question. These types of maps existed in this liminal space: produced with artistic skill, yet purely utilitarian. How does the map’s function impact how we value the time dedicated to creating it? Who uses the map, and who profits from that use? Editor: It almost makes you think about propaganda. A map dictates perspective, controlling the world. Curator: Precisely. It wasn’t purely a representation of physical reality. The material itself is charged. Who controlled the paper, the printing press, and distribution channels? This map, even in reproduction, isn’t neutral; it is very pointed statement on cultural production. Editor: So, viewing it through the lens of material culture really brings forth issues beyond simple geography. Curator: Yes. Understanding the resources that facilitate artistic output gives valuable social insights. It transcends merely aesthetics or symbolic relevance. Editor: I see, the production, distribution, and intended use affect the historical view. Thank you! Curator: Absolutely, thinking of it as pure art, is like missing a whole part of it.