"Die Festung Gam" 1647

Editor: So, this is "Die Festung Gam," created in 1647. It's a print – an etching and engraving – and it looks like a landscape, maybe with some history-painting elements. There's a real sense of depth created through all those fine lines. How do you read this piece? Curator: I am immediately struck by the intricate process that went into creating this image. The artist is presenting "Die Festung Gam," but equally showing us the labor and technical skill involved in etching and engraving. We see a landscape, but rendered through the very particular means of 17th-century printmaking. The choice of etching and engraving—processes which allowed for mass production—makes me wonder about the intended audience and distribution of this image. Was it meant for scholarly purposes? Editor: That's interesting. I was focused on the castle and how it dominates the composition, but you’re drawn to the printing process itself and who it’s for! Does the social context play into that at all? Curator: Absolutely! The act of reproducing this image and circulating it using a mechanical method meant it had a wider distribution. Printmaking, and how it democratized the art viewing experience, and furthermore, perhaps also provided revenue for the artist is important to note here. Who was he hoping would acquire the prints? Why this scene and these means? Consider the labor involved - the etching, the inking, the pressing, versus what was available with other mediums during the era, and how accessibility would vary. These are important issues to remember when encountering pre-modern images like these. Editor: I see what you mean. It’s less about the "what" and more about the "how" and the "why." Thanks so much, I’ve got a lot to think about! Curator: My pleasure! Now go forth and question the modes of production!