Emperor Matthias c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Hubert Goltzius's portrait of Emperor Matthias. It looks like an engraving, maybe a medal? The detail in the face and the ruff is amazing. What can you tell me about the way it was made? Curator: Consider the labor involved in the engraving process itself. The tools, the skill...it speaks to a very specific kind of artisan. How do the materials themselves – the metal plate, the paper, the ink – influence your perception of Emperor Matthias? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. It’s less about him and more about the process and the people that made it. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! Now consider how the materiality of the print might have been used in different social contexts.