Saint John c. 16th century

Editor: This is Agostino Veneziano's "Saint John," made with engraving. The crisp lines give it a bright, ethereal quality. What can you tell me about the methods and materiality of this piece? Curator: Notice how the engraving technique itself, a labor-intensive process of carving lines into a metal plate, mirrors the dedication and discipline associated with religious scholarship and the production of texts. Consider the consumption of printed imagery in the 16th century and the rise of printmaking workshops. How did this impact artistic production? Editor: That's fascinating. I never considered the link between process and dissemination. Curator: The material conditions surrounding the creation and distribution of this print shaped its meaning. Editor: I'll certainly keep that in mind. Thanks! Curator: It's all about the artist's labor and the materials employed.