Title Page 1608

Curator: This is the title page designed by Wolfgang Kilian, dating back to 1664. The work is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s striking how ornate the print is, even at this scale. There’s a real sense of the theatrical. Curator: Absolutely, prints like this played a key role in disseminating knowledge and shaping perceptions of power during the early modern period. Kilian would have worked as part of a larger workshop system. Editor: You're right, the labor of production is really apparent here. Consider the materials, the printing press itself, and how the print functions as a reproducible commodity within a specific market. Curator: This piece also suggests the powerful role imagery has played in reinforcing ideas about leadership and empire. Editor: A potent reminder of the careful construction inherent in image-making, even centuries ago.