Johann Joachim Spalding c. 18th century

Editor: This is Johann Friedrich Bause's portrait of Johann Joachim Spalding. It's interesting how the artist depicted the subject within this ornate frame. What's your take on this piece? Curator: The engraving itself reveals much about the social context of image production at the time. Consider the labor invested in its creation, from the engraver's skill to the paper itself. How does this materiality inform our understanding of Spalding's status? Editor: So, you're saying the value isn't just in the image, but the process and materials? That’s fascinating. Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to think about the economics of portraiture, and the skilled labor that went into creating and consuming images. It also complicates the idea of who has access to art.