Charity c. 1580

Editor: This engraving, called "Charity" by Hieronymus Wierix, is brimming with details. I’m struck by the sheer amount of activity. What do you see in this piece, especially considering the way it blends religious imagery with, what seems like, everyday life? Curator: From a materialist lens, look at the sheer labor involved in creating such a detailed print. Wierix, and others like him, democratized religious imagery. Consider how the engraving process allowed for mass production and dissemination, impacting the consumption and understanding of charity in 16th-century society. The image itself becomes a commodity. Editor: So the medium itself influences the message, making it accessible and consumable. Curator: Precisely. How does that impact the traditional notions of "high art" and its role within a specific social class, by making such works broadly accessible? Editor: It really makes you think about who gets to interpret and experience art! Thanks!