Hagar and Ishmael (?) 17th-18th century

Editor: This is Bernard Picart's drawing, possibly titled "Hagar and Ishmael," made sometime between 1673 and 1733. The medium looks like brown ink on paper. It's a very tender scene, but what do you see in this piece? Curator: I notice the labor involved in printmaking during Picart's time. The etching process itself – the physical act of engraving the plate, the careful application of acid, the printing – all speak to a significant investment of labor. How do you think the social context influenced the depiction of Hagar and Ishmael? Editor: I hadn't considered the labor aspect so directly, more the emotional intensity. So, the social context of 17th-18th century Europe and how this biblical narrative played into ideas about family, exile, and maybe even class structures? Curator: Precisely. The availability and cost of materials, the workshop structure, the intended market for such prints... these factors all shape the final product and our understanding of its meaning. It's all about what went into the making of this image. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding its creation. Thanks.