Death Appearing to a Wedded Couple 1639

Editor: This is Rembrandt van Rijn's etching, "Death Appearing to a Wedded Couple." It's quite small, just a few inches, and done with such delicate lines. It feels so haunting seeing Death in such a domestic scene. What's your take on this work? Curator: Let’s consider the materiality of this etching. The copper plate itself, the acid used to bite the lines, the paper it’s printed on – all are commodities, part of a system of production and consumption. How does that knowledge change our perception of the scene? Editor: That's an interesting point. I guess I hadn't considered it that way. It makes me think about the accessibility of art, then and now. Curator: Exactly! And the act of etching itself, a craft requiring skill and labor, elevates the message, transforming a memento mori into a commentary on the social realities of marriage and mortality. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding the meaning and method.