Concubina Bolognese 1598

Editor: So this print, "Concubina Bolognese" by Christoph Krieger, dates from 1598. It seems to be an engraving, very detailed with intricate lines. I find it interesting that this "concubine" is depicted so modestly, almost nun-like in her attire. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, considering the context of late 16th-century Bologna, we need to consider the materiality of the print itself. The accessibility of prints allowed for a broader dissemination of images, even of potentially controversial figures. Was this image produced for the elite, or could lower classes access it? Editor: That’s a great point. How do we discern its intended audience, though, from just the object? Curator: Look at the ornamentation, and quality of the paper itself, if possible, tells you how it would be consumed and how much the consumer valued that image as a symbolic marker for themselves. And also, consider the "means of production." Was this part of a larger series, perhaps a book of costumes or types? Editor: It could well be. So, the print itself is less about an individual and more about a social role being circulated and consumed? The detail in the dress… it almost makes the woman secondary to its construction. Curator: Exactly. The depiction becomes less about the individual 'Concubina' and more about how the role, materialized through costume and the printed image itself, operates within a certain economy and social structure. It reflects prevailing attitudes toward labor, status and perhaps even challenges established hierarchies. Editor: This is a whole new way of looking at it for me! Considering the economics opens it up so much more! Curator: Indeed! Analyzing the production, dissemination, and consumption of this image provides valuable insights into the socio-economic dynamics of the time. It underscores the idea that even seemingly straightforward portraits can reveal deeper power dynamics.