The Good Shepherd, Illustration from Ludolphus, Leven Ons Heeren, Antwerp, Leeu, 1487 1487

Editor: This is "The Good Shepherd," an illustration from 1487. It was printed in Antwerp, and the artist is unknown. I'm struck by the texture in the figures' clothing. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Notice how the printmaking process flattens the image, yet it's precisely through this method of production—the labor, the materials—that the narrative takes form. How might the image’s accessibility through print influence its reception and the spread of its message? Editor: That's a great point! It highlights the democratization of art and information in that period. Thanks for the insights. Curator: Indeed. The materiality speaks volumes about the artwork's cultural role.