Spotprent op de bisschop van Munster, 1665 1665

Curator: This print, titled "Spotprent op de bisschop van Munster" from 1665, presents us with a fascinating convergence of material production and social commentary. Editor: Indeed, it's quite striking! An engraving from the Rijksmuseum collection. The bishop is shown holding a book in one hand and a sword in the other. It feels like a political caricature. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the etching technique and how it serves as a reproducible medium for disseminating propaganda. The Bishop is at the centre, poised almost confrontationally, right? But what's equally important is the textual component. It suggests a critique of power that connects to labour, materials and economic control exerted through the church at that time. Note how accessible such print was, in contrast to paintings produced in oil. How was such technique effective? Editor: So, you’re saying the relatively accessible technique enabled wide dissemination of critique about the bishop. Would the intention of the caricature be targeting a specific segment of society that had grievances or conflict with the church, which makes the print act as some form of agitprop? Curator: Precisely. This piece collapses what we'd consider today as 'high' and 'low' art. We must reflect on who the consumers of this print would have been, their material conditions, and how the print circulated. The content is what elevates it from craft to "fine" art? Editor: The way that meaning can arise out of materials…I never thought about it that way before! That completely changed how I appreciate it. Curator: Me too, a fresh view enhances our understanding.