Nativity c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Albrecht Altdorfer's "Nativity." It's a small woodcut, packed with detail. I'm struck by how the artist uses such a humble material to depict such a significant moment. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Note how Altdorfer's process democratizes a sacred scene. Woodcut, a relatively accessible medium, renders this divine birth not as an ethereal event, but as something tangible and worked. How does this shift our understanding of religious iconography and its consumption in the period? Editor: So the choice of material makes the sacred more accessible to the masses? Curator: Precisely. Think of the labor involved in creating the print, and how that labor connects to the everyday lives of its viewers. It blurs the lines between craft and high art, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It's fascinating how the materiality shapes our perception of the subject matter. Curator: Indeed. By focusing on the means of production, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork’s place within its social and economic context.