Aanbidding van het Christuskind door geestelijken 1629

Editor: This engraving, "Adoration of Christ Child by Clergy," from 1629, created by Christoffel van Sichem II, really has this stark, contrasting feel. It almost looks like two separate scenes stacked on top of each other. What catches your eye when you look at this? Curator: Immediately, the meticulous labor invested in the engraving process is apparent. Consider the tools Sichem used: the burin, the metal plates. How did the cost and availability of these materials influence the production and, consequently, the consumption of this image by the public? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn't thought about that. So, who do you imagine was viewing this, and where would they see it? Curator: Given the religious subject matter and the cost associated with printmaking, it was likely destined for consumption within specific social circles, perhaps among affluent clergy members. The Baroque style hints at its function too - as a means to project power of religious elites or facilitate private devotional practices. But, do you think its value resides in artistic skill alone? Editor: No, probably not. Thinking about the process itself – the act of engraving and printing allows for wider distribution, right? This makes me consider its potential as propaganda. Curator: Exactly. By exploring its materiality, we uncover the embedded economic and social realities shaping both the creation and interpretation of this "Adoration." We realize it might be more than just an innocent depiction of faith, what do you think about it? Editor: I’ve never thought of engravings in this way, understanding how the process itself contributes to the meaning and power of the image. Curator: Exactly, by thinking about process and the means of production. We can go beyond the immediate reading of the image itself.