Typus Utriusque S. Legis 1570 - 1619

Curator: Materially, we're observing an engraving by Hieronymus Wierix, entitled "Typus Utriusque S. Legis," dating between 1570 and 1619. It's incredibly detailed, almost overwhelming at first glance. What do you make of this intricate piece? Editor: The detail is certainly striking! It feels very busy, almost like a tapestry woven with religious scenes and figures. There's a lot happening. What stories do you see woven into its composition, and can it reveal anything about how it was made? Curator: Well, let’s consider the social context of printmaking at the time. Engravings like this weren't simply artistic expressions, they were a form of mass media. It was a reproduction on a grand scale, with cheap material but complex symbolism! So, the choice of engraving—its reproducibility—speaks volumes. Editor: It served almost as an instructional manual, in a way? What is its use of specific symbolism and how that affects production? Curator: Precisely! The image contrasting the Old and New Testaments highlights differing notions of labour, duty and consumption. Who carries the heavy grape bunches and what does that communicate? How is value created? Editor: I never considered it from that angle before. Now that I’m thinking about the labour it presents it feels really poignant. It brings together production of labour and artistic creation in one piece. Curator: Exactly. Consider also the economic conditions driving the demand for such images. Who would buy this, and what would they *do* with it? Editor: That really reframes my understanding. Instead of focusing on its symbolism and religious context, I should think of the manufacturing behind such work. Thank you. Curator: And I'm taking away the student's understanding on the relation between content and its mass reproduction! Thank you!