The Fall of Icarus, with Mouse, Turkey, Crab, and Spaniel 1582 - 1586

Curator: Editor: This is Adriaen Collaert’s engraving, "The Fall of Icarus, with Mouse, Turkey, Crab, and Spaniel." It’s incredibly detailed, and quite small. The pastoral scene seems so removed from the tragedy. What do you make of it? Curator: It's compelling, isn't it? Think about the means of production. This wasn't painting for wealthy patrons, but printmaking for a broader audience. It democratized access to imagery, even classical narratives. The inclusion of everyday animals—a mouse, a turkey—what does that suggest about its intended viewer? Editor: That the artist, or the patron, wanted to appeal to a wider audience, possibly one more engaged with the everyday than the elite? Curator: Precisely. The labor involved in creating this intricate engraving, the materials, the way it circulates...it all speaks to a shift in art's role and consumption. Editor: That’s fascinating! I never considered the social implications of printmaking itself. Thanks!