Horae in Laud. Beatiss. semper V.M. 1525

Curator: This striking image comes from Geoffroy Tory's "Horae in Laud. Beatiss. semper V.M.", created around 1525. It's a woodcut, a printmaking technique where the image is carved into a block of wood. Editor: The composition draws the eye immediately; that stark contrast and the formality gives a somber tone despite depicting the adoration. Curator: Indeed. The material process here is central. Think of the labour involved in carving this intricate scene onto wood—each line meticulously placed, mirrored when printed. The social context is important: Tory was a key figure in the French Renaissance, aiming to standardize the French language and elevate printing as a respectable art. Editor: That labour connects to broader dialogues on art and craft, of course. The inclusion of a Black magus raises a point for interrogation. During the Renaissance, depictions of the Adoration often included a Black magus, embodying the universality of Christianity. However, this depiction exists within a context of growing European colonialism and the developing ideology of race. It raises questions about how power structures and identity were being constructed and reinforced through art at that time. Curator: Precisely. And the book itself – a Book of Hours, intended for private devotion – shows how art and faith were intertwined with everyday life, serving a devotional purpose within a particular social class that had access to these precious goods. How do you read that balance of power embedded into art making process? Editor: It speaks volumes about the period, reminding us that while artistic creation is an individual act, it's always shaped by larger historical forces. Considering the patronage, for instance, the choices in representation would reflect the social order, religion, race. Even what might appear symbolic or simply stylistic becomes deeply significant, because art-making and labour involves politics and meaning making! Curator: A truly complex work of art – much more than just a religious image – to offer many possibilities for contemplation. Editor: Exactly, leaving us to think about faith, representation, and power.