Winter 17th-18th century

Editor: This is "Winter" by Johann Elias Ridinger. It's an engraving, showing a hunting scene with dogs. The detail in the animals is amazing! What do you make of the materials used here? Curator: The etching process itself is significant. Consider the labor invested, the specialized tools, and the market for such prints. It speaks to 18th-century production and consumption. Where would prints like this one have been displayed? Editor: I guess in homes? For the wealthy? Curator: Exactly! This speaks volumes about class and access to art at the time, and how it relates to the means of production. The print democratized art by being reproducible. Editor: I see! It's more than just the image; it's about how it was made and who could own it.