Plate I c. 16th century

Curator: This is "Plate I" by Hans Schäufelein, an artist who lived from 1480 to 1540. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me how much detail is conveyed with just lines. You can almost feel the weight of the fabric and metal. Curator: Indeed, Schäufelein’s mastery of woodcut allows him to depict the social status conveyed through clothing of the time. Editor: The textures are fantastic, from the fur trim to the woman's elaborate headpiece and the man's bulging doublet. It's all meticulously rendered. How was this image produced? Curator: Woodcut is a relief printing technique where the artist carves away the white space, leaving the design to be inked and printed. It democratized image creation in the time. Editor: So, it’s both an artistic and social statement, a material means of making images more widely available. Curator: Precisely, reflecting shifts in artistic production and consumption during that era. Editor: It is a powerful example of how material processes shape what we understand about a society. Curator: Agreed. This work reflects the broader cultural and political landscapes of its time.