Genesis 45: Joseph sends for his father 15th-16th century

Editor: Here we have an anonymous artwork titled "Genesis 45: Joseph sends for his father" from the Harvard Art Museums. The woodcut style gives it a folksy, almost primitive feel. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Looking at the materials and process, the use of woodcut suggests a wider accessibility of the image. This wasn't a luxury item. How does the medium itself, with its limitations of line and tone, influence the story being told and its consumption by the public? Editor: That's a great point, it does look like it was made for mass consumption. I guess I hadn't thought of the material implications of that. Curator: Precisely! Consider the labor involved, the distribution networks, and the social context of its creation. It speaks volumes about the relationship between art, production, and the audience it served. Editor: I'll definitely look at art with a different perspective now! Curator: Indeed. By investigating the means of production we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural value and function.