Judgment of Paris (copy) 1494 - 1569

Curator: We’re looking at "Judgment of Paris (copy)," an intaglio print by Barthel Beham, created sometime between 1494 and 1569. Editor: There’s an old-world storybook feel. It's a round, like looking into a hand mirror, with a group of figures posed as though acting out a very serious, almost severe play. It's dramatic and a bit haunting, you know? Curator: Beham primarily worked in printmaking, which made art accessible to a wider audience. This engraving exemplifies how classical narratives were reinterpreted through the lens of Renaissance humanism and consumed by those eager for such subjects. Editor: Reinterpreted is one way to say it! He certainly took some liberties, didn’t he? I can't help but wonder if it was cheeky critique, that is not reverent. It reminds me how fashion is critiqued. The apple looks more like a bomb, and I like the idea of playing the muses up for sales. What a concept! Curator: It raises questions about Beham's socio-economic positioning, right? Who were his patrons? Did they demand such playful, albeit somewhat crude, representation of a revered story? The choice of engraving, with its reproducibility, speaks to a broader market that consumed images but might have perceived value and beauty differently than a noble. Editor: So, the lines dug deep create contrasts! Almost as sharp as this judgement will be. The story made more widely available. This all reminds me how stories and ideas have their moment, and become accessible... It just kind of hangs in the air doesn’t it? Curator: Precisely. The material evidence in print indicates how classical themes were transformed into a product with certain economic value, responding to particular demands for knowledge and entertainment during the rise of printing. Editor: What strikes me is how timeless it all is—vanity, seduction, judgment. He transformed it, but still kept its heart pumping! A lot to take away for such a simple delivery. Curator: Indeed, considering this, one gains new understanding on the culture's understanding of myth and moral within production.