De heilige Pasquale Baylón 1735 - 1803

Curator: Here we have "De heilige Pasquale Baylón," an engraving made between 1735 and 1803 by Domenico Cunego, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It has a very serene feel, and I’m immediately drawn to the incredible detail achieved through engraving. How would you interpret this work, particularly focusing on its materials and production? Curator: Looking at it through a materialist lens, the print's production speaks volumes. The act of engraving itself, requiring skilled labor and specific tools to transfer an image onto a metal plate, points to a world of artisanal production. We must consider the engraver as a skilled laborer embedded within a social system that dictates the reproduction and dissemination of such imagery. This was a world driven by commission, religious orders, and a growing market for printed images. Consider also the paper - likely rag-based in this period - and how its sourcing and availability impacted print production. The materials tell the story. Editor: That’s fascinating. So the material and production are inherently linked to its social context? Curator: Exactly. The Baroque style suggests a patronage system, often connected to the Church or aristocracy. What impact did religion and social status have on the making of art at that time? Editor: It almost seems as if the subject matter is only a portion of what is actually at stake with the creation of this engraving. Curator: Precisely! This challenges our understanding of artistic expression because it pushes us to look beyond individual authorship and creative "genius". By focusing on materiality and the production process, it brings out the collective, social nature of art making, placing Domenico Cunego's work firmly within its socio-economic context. Editor: So interesting to consider the role of labor and the marketplace alongside the artistic skill. Thank you, that really reframed my view! Curator: Indeed. Shifting our perspective in this manner unveils the true essence and significance of art as a product deeply intertwined with the social reality in which it was created.