IHS Monogram surrounded by Six Angels 1480 - 1490

Editor: This is "IHS Monogram surrounded by Six Angels," an engraving done in ink by Daniel Hopfer between 1480 and 1490. It’s currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’m really struck by how this print combines the sacred with these almost…grotesque decorative elements. How do you see the piece? Curator: I notice the labor involved in creating such an intricate engraving. Consider the socio-economic context: prints like these, made using relatively accessible materials like ink and metal, democratized image production in a way previously unimaginable. These works made visual devotion available beyond the wealthy elite. Editor: So you're saying the material itself made religious art more accessible? Curator: Exactly. This isn't about some unique masterpiece; it's about reproducible images and the craft required for their production. The choice of engraving is pivotal. Think of the process: etching into metal, applying ink, pressing. A repeatable, almost mechanical action, yet resulting in this captivating display. Consider, too, how such pieces fueled the trade of devotional objects. Were these mass produced objects as emotionally valuable as other forms of artwork during this time? Editor: I never thought about it like that. So instead of focusing on the religious aspects, you’re more interested in how it was made, who made it, and its impact on society. Curator: Precisely. It’s about deconstructing the notion of the ‘divine inspiration’ of art and looking at the practical reality of its creation, dissemination, and consumption within a particular material context. Editor: It's fascinating to think of this image as less about its symbolic meaning and more about its physical production. It opens up a whole new perspective. Thanks for showing that to me.