Portret van Matthäus Schiner 1549 - 1575

Curator: Editor: Here we have a look at "Portrait of Matthäus Schiner", an engraving that probably dates from the late 16th century. I’m immediately struck by the detail achievable through printmaking at that time – look at the texture of the clothing. What do you find particularly compelling? Editor: Well, I'm interested in this being an engraving. Given how prevalent paintings were as a sign of status, how does the medium choice influence our understanding of this piece, and perhaps its accessibility to different social strata? Curator: That’s a key point. Engravings are inherently about reproducibility, about disseminating an image. While oil painting remained the domain of the elite due to material cost and patronage, printmaking allowed for wider circulation of images, knowledge, and, importantly, propaganda. Who was Matthäus Schiner, and how might reproducing his image serve a specific social or political purpose? Editor: Historical records show he was a rather influential Cardinal...So maybe producing and distributing this engraving served to project his image as powerful in multiple locations? Was the labor involved considered "art" or craft" during this time, given its reproduciblity? Curator: Exactly. The line between 'art' and 'craft' becomes blurry here. An engraving necessitates skill, planning, and artistry, yet it’s also a mechanical process designed for mass production. This challenges our modern ideas of the 'unique' artwork and prompts us to consider the workshop as a site of collaborative labour, a small industry. The economics and means of distribution would then determine the social impact of an image like this far beyond its aesthetic qualities. Editor: It's interesting to consider the power dynamics embedded in the creation and distribution of this portrait through the lens of printmaking. I’d always focused on the artistry of the image itself, but now I can see how the medium shapes its meaning and reach. Curator: Indeed, by considering materials, labour, and consumption, we can see how seemingly simple images can tell incredibly rich stories.