Christus te midden van de leraren: wijsheid 1585 - 1588

Editor: Here we have "Christus te midden van de leraren: wijsheid," a print from sometime between 1585 and 1588 by Johann Sadeler I. Looking at the detailed engraving, with all its figures crowded into the scene, I am curious, what’s your take on this piece? Curator: Considering this engraving through a materialist lens, it speaks volumes about the social and economic conditions of its production and reception. The meticulous labor required to create such a detailed print – the drafting, the carving of the plate, the printing process itself - points to a highly skilled artisanal workshop. Editor: I see, so the material and production give it context. Curator: Precisely. Engravings like this weren't just aesthetic objects; they were commodities, serving a vital function in disseminating knowledge and religious ideas. We must consider who commissioned the work, who the intended audience was, and how this imagery might have been used to reinforce particular social structures. Notice the very deliberate inclusion of the texture of garments? Editor: That's true. There's such detail given to clothing, the folds, even the way light reflects off the fabrics. Was that simply for aesthetics? Curator: Not entirely. Representing such richness, especially in clothing, served to showcase wealth and status but also created a market that was attainable due to its medium: the print. The materiality of the image created the option to showcase unattainable status, even for those with less wealth. Editor: So, considering the materials and the work that went into creating it, you're saying this engraving operated within a whole system of production and consumption. I guess I never thought about art from that point of view. Curator: Exactly. And thinking about art through a materialist lens provides us the means to view the objects beyond face value. Editor: Thank you.