Gonzalvo de Cordova c. 17th century

Editor: This is Wolfgang Kilian's portrait, "Gonzalvo de Cordova." It's an engraving and I'm struck by the intense detail of the armor and the ruff. What can you tell me about the techniques of production? Curator: I see a highly mediated image, dependent on the skills of the printmaker and the availability of base materials: metal plates, ink, and paper. The labor involved in creating the intricate lines and textures speaks to a complex system of artisanal production and consumption in Kilian's time. Editor: That's fascinating to consider. I hadn't thought about the materials as being a statement in themselves. Curator: Indeed, printmaking itself blurred the lines between art, craft, and industry. It makes you consider who had access to these images and what that meant socially. Editor: I'll never look at an engraving the same way.