Minerva Victorious over the Giants, after the Antique c. 19th century

Editor: This is François Jacques Dequevauviller's "Minerva Victorious over the Giants, after the Antique". It's an engraving, and it feels very neoclassical to me. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Well, the engraving process itself is crucial. How does the artist's labor, mediated through tools and printing, transform the original sculpture? Consider the consumption of these images. Editor: How so? Curator: These engravings made classical art accessible. What social classes could afford this and how did they use the images? The materiality of the print connects "high art" to broader social contexts. Editor: So, it's not just about the goddess, but the whole system around making and distributing her image. I never thought about it that way. Curator: Exactly. By understanding the means of production, we reveal the complex web of labor and consumption shaping our understanding of the antique. Editor: Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about regarding the image's production.