Christ Child with Three Angels c. 1460 - 1470

Editor: This tempera and ink drawing, "Christ Child with Three Angels," dates back to around 1460-1470 and is by an anonymous artist. What strikes me is the raw, almost folk-art quality of the materials. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Let's focus on the making of this image, shall we? Look at the apparent low cost of the materials – ink, tempera, and what looks like readily available paper. How does that inform your understanding of its intended audience? Is this a commission for the wealthy elite, or something circulated more widely, perhaps reproduced as a simple print? Editor: That's a really interesting point! I hadn't thought about the economics of art production back then. So, the choice of materials like tempera and ink, suggests a broader, more accessible market than say, oil paint and gold leaf would? Curator: Precisely. And consider the repetitive nature of printmaking itself. It implies not just a lower price point, but potentially, a greater number of people engaging with these religious themes. Think about the labour involved, too. The repetitive act of printing allows for wider dissemination of the image, thus driving its consumption. How do you think these methods impacted devotional practices at the time? Editor: So, mass production changed art, even then. It makes you consider who really controlled artistic expression and the associated values in medieval Europe. Curator: Indeed. And who profited from it. Understanding the materiality and methods really opens up questions about power, labour, and access that transcend purely aesthetic concerns. What can we learn by carefully assessing the ‘how’ over the ‘what’ Editor: Thanks, I appreciate this view, because it shows the cultural context within the piece. It’s about understanding value not just aesthetically but economically and socially.