Slag bij Jemmingen, 1568 1630 - 1632

Editor: So, here we have Johann Wilhelm Baur’s "Slag bij Jemmingen, 1568," an etching dating from 1630-1632. It’s incredibly detailed. The sheer number of figures and the devastation…it's overwhelming. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: What interests me are the conditions of its production. This print wasn’t just pulled out of thin air; consider the labor involved in its creation. Baur, as a printmaker, was essentially producing a commodity. How does this reproductive method affect the dissemination and interpretation of the depicted event, the Battle of Jemmingen? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. I hadn't thought about it in terms of mass production. So, the etching as a medium makes it accessible, but does it also…influence how the battle itself is perceived? Curator: Precisely. Consider the historical context. Who commissioned this print, and for what purpose? Was it intended as a straightforward historical record, or perhaps something more propagandistic, aimed at shaping public opinion on the battle, or the conflict as a whole? These details become embedded in the object itself. The material itself almost takes a role in history! What do you think? Editor: That really opens my eyes to seeing the print as more than just an image. Knowing that its creation involved a whole system of labor and possible intention…it adds so much depth. Curator: Exactly. Examining the material and the methods opens up narratives beyond just the surface image. It invites us to consider the socioeconomic factors shaping the art and history. Editor: I’ll definitely be looking at prints, and all art really, with a new perspective now! Curator: Me too; each conversation helps refine my understanding as well!