Angel Saves Three Children from the Furnace at Babylon c. 15th century

Editor: This is "Angel Saves Three Children from the Furnace at Babylon," by an anonymous artist. It looks like an early print. The lines are so simple, but the image is powerful. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the labor involved in its production – the woodcutting, the printing process itself. It's a reproductive technology that democratizes images, making religious narratives accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. Consider the social context: how does the materiality of this print affect its reception and function? Editor: So, it's not just about the image itself, but about how it was made and shared? I hadn’t thought of it that way. Curator: Exactly! It challenges the traditional hierarchy that elevates painting over printmaking, forcing us to examine the means of production and consumption. Editor: This definitely gives me a new perspective on how to view prints. Thanks!