Palace with Statues at the Port of Genoa 1670

Editor: So, this is Melchior Küsel’s "Palace with Statues at the Port of Genoa." It looks like an etching, a scene teeming with figures and architecture. What strikes me is the contrast between the bustling port and the seemingly idle wealthy. What's your take? Curator: The print reveals much about the labor and resources that enabled such displays of wealth. Consider the paper itself – the material cost, the skill required for etching. Who produced it, and for what market? The scene stages a social hierarchy dependent on both maritime trade and artistic production. Editor: That’s a great point, I hadn’t considered the material realities behind the print itself. Thanks! Curator: Of course. Considering the print as a commodity itself really opens it up.