Massacre of the Innocents c. 16th century

Editor: This etching is Gian Battista Bolognini's "Massacre of the Innocents." The composition is incredibly active and violent. What are your initial thoughts on this piece? Curator: The method of production is key here. Printmaking allowed for wider distribution of this horrific scene. How might the availability of such images have impacted 17th-century views on violence and power? Editor: That's fascinating! It makes me think about how we consume images of violence today, too. Curator: Exactly. The print's materiality and its potential for mass consumption are inseparable from its meaning. The labor involved in creating and distributing it, too, speaks volumes. Editor: I never thought about it that way, but it does add another layer of understanding to the work. Thanks for sharing your expertise! Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about art through its means of production always yields new insights.