Alexander en Jaddua 1617 - 1619

Curator: This tapestry, “Alexander en Jaddua,” was created between 1617 and 1619 by Karel van Mander the Younger. Its materiality, as a textile, immediately strikes me. It's easy to forget that this image, seemingly frozen in time, is built from woven threads. Editor: Absolutely. The amount of labor involved must have been extraordinary! What statement does using textile as the artistic medium make about the cultural value placed on labor and artistic skill? Curator: It challenges our typical definitions of "high art." Painting, often considered superior, relies on individual genius. Tapestry, however, showcases collective work, linking it to craftsmanship. The raw materials--wool, silk, dyes--their trade routes and availability would have drastically influenced its production, and its value! Editor: So the economic context would directly affect the artistic product? I guess the quality of the textile reflects something about wealth distribution. Curator: Exactly. Luxury textiles are about demonstrating your own spending power, but tapestries such as these may function to highlight the labor of skilled weavers. Now consider: how would the social class of the intended audience impact the narrative choices depicted here, given the expense associated with a woven artifact like this? Editor: So it's less about the artist's vision, and more about these materials, processes and intended audiences interacting within that specific social environment? This textile becomes a record of social relationships and material circumstances? Curator: Precisely. Thinking about “Alexander en Jaddua” primarily as an object shaped by material constraints and economic forces enriches our understanding beyond just its historical narrative. Editor: This totally shifted my perspective! I came in thinking about the biblical story represented, but seeing the material history gives so much insight.