Shepherds and their Flock 1558

Editor: Here we have the anonymous woodcut, "Shepherds and their Flock." The textures created by the lines are striking. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Well, consider the labor involved in carving the woodblock itself. Each line painstakingly etched, mirroring the shepherd’s own work. Notice how this process elevates a common scene of labor to art. What does that say about consumption of images versus the realities of rural life? Editor: So it’s about highlighting the value of everyday work through the very act of its creation? That’s fascinating! Curator: Exactly. And where might this image have been consumed? Was it for the wealthy, or for a broader segment of society?