The Ascension of Christ 1581

Curator: Diana Scultori’s “The Ascension of Christ” presents us with an upward surge of form and light. The etching is striking. Editor: It’s an image of labour-intensive making. What's fascinating here is not just the religious subject, but Scultori's skill as a printmaker and the networks of production that enabled her work. Curator: Absolutely, and observe how Scultori uses the circular composition to draw the eye inward, towards the radiant figure of Christ, elevated by clouds. Editor: I think of the engraver’s tools—the burin scoring the copperplate. It is a very material process that results in an ostensibly ethereal image. Curator: The ascension motif is beautifully rendered through the careful gradations of light and shadow, creating a sense of divine transcendence. Editor: Considering this was made by a woman in the 16th century, it challenges our understanding of artistic labor and access during that time. Curator: Indeed, the work provides an interesting intersection of form and narrative, and how that contributes to its spiritual resonance. Editor: And it’s a reminder that art history must also be the history of production.