Erasmus, Praise of Folly 1780

Editor: Here we have Daniel Chodowiecki's engraving, "Erasmus, Praise of Folly." It's a series of little scenes, finely rendered. The scene with the craftsperson caught my eye, what does it tell us about how labor was viewed? Curator: The printing process itself becomes central here. Chodowiecki, through meticulous engraving, democratizes Erasmus's ideas. The craftsperson is not just depicted, but the very act of creating this image mirrors their labor. What social commentary do you think the mass production of such images enabled? Editor: So, the engraving itself makes the artwork accessible, much like the craftsperson's work makes objects accessible? That's fascinating! I never thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely! It challenges high art by embracing the materiality of production and consumption, blurring the lines between intellectual pursuit and manual labor. Editor: I see now that the medium is more than just a method; it's part of the message. Thanks for highlighting that!