Last Supper c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Barthholomäus Ignaz Weiss’s "Last Supper." It's fascinating how much detail is packed into this small print. What stands out to you in terms of its creation? Curator: Let's consider the materiality of printmaking. The copperplate engraving process itself – the labor, the tools used to incise the image, the ink, the paper – all contribute to the final product. This isn't just about religious iconography; it's about the means of production and the accessibility this medium afforded for disseminating imagery. How do you think the print medium affects the image's reception? Editor: It makes me consider how many people could see and own this image versus a painting. I never thought about the materials impacting the message so directly. Curator: Exactly. Examining art through its material existence reveals so much about its cultural function.