Theuerdarnk on a Boar Hunt, from [Theuerdank] Die geuerlicheiten vnd einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen vnd hochberümbten helds vnd Ritters herr Tewrdannckhs 1517

This woodcut, ‘Theuerdank on a Boar Hunt’ was created by Hans Burgkmair in the early 16th century as an illustration for a book. A relief process, woodcut involves carving an image into a block of wood, then inking and printing the raised surface left behind. The material qualities of wood are paramount here. The grain subtly textures the image, while the sharp lines and stark contrast are a direct result of the carving process. Woodcuts like this one were immensely important for the wide dissemination of information at this time, as the printing press began to transform European society. Consider the labor involved: the slow, careful work of the artist, and the coordinated efforts of printers and publishers. Although the story told is one of aristocratic leisure, the image itself speaks to the rise of a new, more democratized visual culture. We can see how the inherent qualities of the material, and the process of making, are closely tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.