Presentation of Christ; verso: Flight into Egypt c. 15th century

Editor: This appears to be an early print, "Presentation of Christ; verso: Flight into Egypt," by an anonymous artist. It's mostly black ink on paper, with some red accents. The figures are quite stylized. What do you see in this piece that speaks to its time and artistic intention? Curator: As a materialist, I'm drawn to the production itself. The woodcut process—the labor involved in carving the block, the printing, and the distribution—speaks volumes about the accessibility of religious imagery at the time. Consider the paper, the ink, and how they were sourced, traded. Editor: So, more about the making than the meaning? Curator: The two are intertwined. The relatively simple technique allowed for mass production. It allowed the creation of devotional images, suggesting a growing demand for personal religious artifacts. The very materiality shapes its purpose. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. Thanks. Curator: And thank you; your observations are also quite insightful.