Altaarsteen uir de Romeinse Tijd van de godin Nehallennia 1836 - 1912

Editor: This drawing is a representation of the 'Altaarsteen uir de Romeinse Tijd van de godin Nehallennia,' created between 1836 and 1912. It employs ink and engraving. I'm struck by the detail achieved with what seems like simple materials. It makes you consider the artist's hand so deliberately rendering this object. What do you see when you look at this, beyond the immediate subject matter? Curator: Well, it's fascinating to consider this image not just as a record of a Roman altar stone, but as a product of its own time. Consider the material conditions in which Weissenbruch would have worked. Ink, engraving… These aren’t just neutral tools, they shape how the original object, that altar, is understood and disseminated. Editor: How so? Curator: The very act of choosing engraving, a reproductive medium, means this altar is destined for circulation, for mass consumption even. It democratizes access to this archaeological find but also risks turning it into a mere commodity. The contrast with the stone, which must have required substantial labor, is very stark here. Also, consider that an engraver isn’t necessarily free to create their image; they're often working to someone else's specifications. How does that affect the 'truth' of this depiction? Editor: So it's less about the religious significance of Nehallennia and more about the work, circulation, and value creation surrounding this image of the altar. Curator: Precisely! Look closely at those lines forming the image. Each one a deliberate mark. Consider the economic system that enabled this mark-making to occur. The social position of the artist! By acknowledging them, you are acknowledging the processes of consumption embedded in this piece. Editor: That gives me so much to consider when looking at seemingly straightforward reproductions of ancient objects. Thank you. Curator: A useful reframing, I think, and hopefully one that challenges the traditional notion of artistic creation as isolated genius.