Untitled c. 17th century

Editor: This small, unsigned print, attributed to Melchior Küsel, depicts a European city street. The etching is incredibly detailed. What strikes me most is the depiction of daily life alongside the grandeur of the architecture. How do you interpret this work, focusing on its materials and production? Curator: Considering Küsel's context, the copperplate etching process itself is crucial. Its reproducibility democratized images of power. Think of the material constraints: metal, acid, paper - all impacting the final image and its distribution. Who owned these images and how did they consume them? Editor: So, the value lies not just in the image, but in the means of production and its social impact? Curator: Precisely. The etching challenges hierarchies by making architecture accessible through mass production. What can the paper and ink tell us about its history of ownership? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered before. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's all about thinking beyond the surface.