Reliëf met Johannes de Doper in de Notre-Dame van Amiens before 1893

This relief of John the Baptist in the Notre-Dame of Amiens was crafted by an anonymous artist. It's a small piece, less than 10 centimeters in either dimension. The artist has clearly engaged with traditional techniques, tools, and skilled traditions alongside those of fine art and craft. It’s not just about decoration, but a meditation on material, making, and context. We can see by the appearance of the artwork that its inherent qualities of substance, texture, weight, color, and form were intentionally selected for the creation of this relief. The relief speaks volumes about the labor, politics, and consumption of its time. It challenges us to think about the countless hours, skill, and human effort involved in the production process. It's a testament to the enduring importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.