The Guardian Angel c. 1729 - 1742

Editor: This is "The Guardian Angel" by Nicolas Gabriel Dupuis. It is difficult to say when it was made, but the artist lived between 1698 and 1771. It appears to be an etching. I am drawn to the textures and the detail of the engraving. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Considering Dupuis's time, look at the materiality of the print itself. How does the mass production of images through etching impact the consumption of religious iconography? The creation and accessibility of this image speak to changing relationships between labor, art, and faith. Editor: That is fascinating! So, its value comes from how it was made, and how many people could access it. Curator: Precisely. The process democratizes the image, shifting its value from unique object to reproducible commodity. What does that say about the role of art in society at that time? Editor: I never thought about it that way before, considering the societal impact of its production. Thanks for this perspective.