Temptation of Christ c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an anonymous woodcut print called "Temptation of Christ." The stark black and white and the visible lines really give it a sense of texture. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the labor involved in its production. The repetitive cutting into the wood block, the consumption of these images by the masses. What does the materiality of this print, its accessibility, tell us about the intended audience and its social context? Editor: So, it's less about the religious narrative and more about how the artwork was made and circulated? Curator: Precisely. The means of production are central to understanding its cultural impact. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. I never considered the process itself as being so important. Curator: Considering the materiality reframes the artwork.