Mountainous River Landscape with Tower on an Outcrop c. 16th century

Editor: So this is Jacob Savery the First's "Mountainous River Landscape with Tower on an Outcrop". It's a pen and brown ink drawing. What strikes me is how the architecture almost blends into the landscape itself, like it's made from the same materials. How do you interpret this piece? Curator: Considering Savery’s historical context, I see how the drawing's function speaks to its meaning. Was it a preparatory sketch? A finished work intended for sale? The medium itself – pen and brown ink – suggests accessibility, a relatively inexpensive method of production. It invites us to consider who might have commissioned or purchased such a work. Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn't thought about the economics of artmaking back then. Curator: Exactly! Thinking about the materials and their accessibility opens up a whole new way to understand the artwork's value and place in society.