The Nativity, left wing of a triptych of the Adoration of the Magi 1472

Editor: This is "The Nativity, left wing of a triptych of the Adoration of the Magi" by Hans Memling, dating back to 1472. It's oil paint on a wood panel. I’m immediately struck by how grounded the scene feels despite the presence of angels, almost like a stage set. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: I notice how Memling depicts the making of meaning through material processes. The oil paint itself, layered painstakingly on the panel, simulates richness and value - literally imbuing the scene with a sense of preciousness fitting for this subject matter. Even the architecture feels constructed, echoing societal structures and the institutional church's physical presence. Consider the labor invested; who was grinding pigments? Whose hands prepared the panel? These processes solidify cultural narratives. Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn’t thought about the actual labour and cost of producing the piece. Do you think that knowledge changes how we view the image? Curator: Absolutely. Knowing the means of production—the workshops, the patrons, the materials sourced and traded—reveals the social dynamics at play. This wasn't just divinely inspired art; it was materially produced and circulated within a specific economic and cultural system. Where was the panel sourced, who had it prepared? What colours where hard to produce and would be most expensive to use? Think about that deep blue! Editor: That perspective makes the painting seem less like a purely spiritual symbol and more like a… product, almost. Curator: Precisely. And within that "product," we find embedded values and ideologies reflecting the era's social stratification and even devotional consumerism. By looking at the materiality, we unearth complex narratives that traditional art history often overlooks. Editor: I guess I'll pay more attention to the materials from now on. Curator: That's the key. Shifting our focus to the materials and the means of production opens up fresh insights. We appreciate not only the artistic skill, but also the complex web of social relationships it embodies.