Plate III c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Hans Schäufelein's "Plate III," a print of some kind. The figures' clothing looks heavy and elaborate. What kind of materials do you think they're made of, and does that tell us anything? Curator: Absolutely. Let’s consider the materials depicted. The heavy drapery, the textured fabrics—these suggest a society deeply invested in material wealth. This isn't just about aesthetics; it speaks to the economic structures that allow for such displays of consumption. Editor: So, the way they dress shows their social standing and the resources available at the time? Curator: Precisely. Schäufelein, through the careful rendering of these materials, provides a commentary on the social stratification of his time, linking artistic representation to the means of production and the act of consumption itself. Editor: That’s a completely different way of looking at it; I never would have thought of that!