Tavern 1617

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot’s etching, "Tavern." It's a small print, but the detail is incredible! There is a lot happening in this image and so many characters. What strikes you about this work? Curator: For me, it’s about the production of this scene. Consider the copperplate, the labour involved in etching those fine lines, and the accessibility this offered to a wider audience. What narrative of material consumption does this tavern scene imply? Editor: That's a good point. I hadn't thought about the tavern as a site of early consumption. What do you make of that? Curator: Well, the printmaking process itself democratizes art, making it a commodity. Similarly, taverns served as places where different social classes could meet and spend their money, revealing social mobility and economic exchange. What do you think? Editor: I never really thought of it that way. It's fascinating to think about a tavern scene in terms of production and consumption.