Watermill c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot's "Watermill," an etching. It's quite intricate! How was the labor of its making reflective of its time? Curator: Indeed. Callot's etching reveals much about 17th-century printmaking's material processes and social function. Notice how the etching technique, with its acids and metal plates, enabled the mass production of images. Editor: So, it's not just art, but a commodity? Curator: Precisely. The print circulated knowledge, depicting landscapes and everyday life. Consider its consumption: who could afford it and what purpose did it serve in their lives? Editor: I see now. It's not just the image, but the entire system of production and consumption. Curator: Exactly, this piece, like others, highlights the commodification of art and the interplay between artistic creation and social structures.