X Slecht en recht 1614

Editor: This engraving, titled "X Slecht en recht," from 1614, attributed to Roemer Visscher, really strikes me with its almost stark simplicity. The contrast is compelling. How would you interpret the choices in its making? Curator: Consider the context: a print, multiple copies disseminated. The image is a constructed ideal – what materials are valorized, what labor is concealed? "Slecht en recht" – plain and righteous. Think of the wood block, the engraver’s hand. What does it mean to reproduce a vision of "righteous" simplicity, likely for a wealthier audience consuming these very prints? Editor: So, you’re saying the materials themselves kind of betray the message? Like the idea of simple living is being mass-produced and sold? Curator: Exactly! The engraving itself is a product of labor and commerce, contradicting the idyllic, pre-commercial existence it depicts. How might the use of engraving itself contribute to the perceived "moral" value? What qualities in the materiality or process seem tied to virtue? Editor: Maybe the precision of the engraving… the clear lines? It makes it look ordered and intentional, like righteousness should be. So the actual technique is reinforcing the message, even if the broader economic context undermines it? Curator: Precisely. And think of the audience. Who has the luxury to reflect upon, even idealize, this "simple" existence? What socio-economic conditions enable this type of consumption and reflection on plain living? Editor: It’s a lot to unpack from what seemed like a straightforward image. Thanks; I didn't realize that examining the materials and production process would reveal so much! Curator: Art history can give insight when focusing beyond aesthetic appreciation and understanding what choices were made, how and why they reflect larger values.