Christ's Entry in Jerusalem c. 1585

Editor: Here we have Adriaen Collaert’s "Christ's Entry into Jerusalem," a print, and I’m struck by the detail in the figures. What can you tell me about the production of this print? Curator: Consider the labor involved in engraving this plate. The engraver meticulously transferred a design to a copper plate, using tools to incise lines that hold ink. How does understanding this process affect our appreciation of the final product and its potential market appeal? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. So, the value is inherent in the means of production and its reach. Curator: Exactly. The materials, the labor, and the potential for mass distribution all speak to the social and economic contexts of artmaking.