Pilate Washing His Hands; Christ Carrying the Cross after 1585

Editor: Here we have Anton Wierix II's "Pilate Washing His Hands; Christ Carrying the Cross." The engravings' textures, especially on the robes, make me wonder about the printmaking process. What stands out to you in this work? Curator: The material reality of these prints—the copperplate engraving, the ink, the paper—speaks volumes. Consider the labor involved in producing these multiple images and how this accessibility shifts the very definition of religious art. Were these meant for private devotion, or wider dissemination? Editor: I hadn't thought about the labor involved. Curator: And what about the social context of printmaking? How does the consumption of these images reflect the prevailing religious and political climate? Editor: It's amazing how the material production can reveal so much about its history. Curator: Indeed, it brings a new appreciation to the artistic practices of the time.