A young man offers his hand to a seated woman, another woman stands between them and a third blows a trumpet behind them, set within an elaborate frame 1535 - 1580

Editor: This intaglio print, dating back to the late 16th century and attributed to Battista Angolo del Moro, presents an allegorical scene framed with incredible detail. I’m struck by the contrast between the central figures and the ornate borders. What catches your eye when you look at this print? Curator: The engraving’s emphasis on labor and material reproduction during the late Renaissance. It invites us to question what constitutes “fine art” versus functional design when prints democratize images through relatively cheaper production costs. Look at the means of its making: the intaglio process, the paper, and the socio-economic structures that allowed for its dissemination. Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at it! I hadn't considered the impact of printmaking technology on accessibility. The pen strokes really seem to make a very precious, singular design. Curator: Precisely! The image of the heroic subject matter blends allegory and nascent ideas of statecraft with decoration in frame design. Can we truly separate the skilled artisan creating luxury items for an elite audience from the fine artist with supposed elevated intellectual ideas? And, also, for whom and by whom were the materials accessible? Editor: I guess it raises questions about who dictates those distinctions and what the implications are for those involved in the artistic production process. Curator: Exactly. What do you make of the choice to have a "lesser" medium, a printed medium, rendering the "greater" history paintings? Editor: So, understanding this artwork is not just about appreciating the final image but also understanding the labor, the materials, and the societal structures that enabled its creation and distribution. That gives me a lot to think about! Thanks! Curator: It shifts how we understand both art production and reception during this period and afterwards. That critical framework enhances how we value any art.