Portret van Carlo Musitano 1692 - 1741

Editor: This is a print called "Portret van Carlo Musitano" by Gabriel Uhlich, created sometime between 1692 and 1741. It's an engraving, a detailed portrait in metal, and it seems almost scholarly with the subject holding a book. How do you see it? Curator: As a materialist, my eye immediately goes to the printmaking process. Think about the labor involved in creating those fine lines, the repetitive actions, the craftsman’s dedication. What does it tell us about the value placed on image production at that time, and the access to these images? Who was commissioning these engravings, and why choose this medium? Editor: That’s interesting. I was focused on the subject himself, Carlo Musitano. But considering the process… were these prints widely circulated? Curator: Probably not in the way we understand mass production today. Each print still represents significant skill and time. And look at the paper, the ink used; were these materials sourced locally or traded across regions? The material choices themselves reflect economic and social realities. Consider this in contrast to painting-- why opt for printmaking at all, considering time, tools and distribution methods? Editor: So, beyond just being a portrait, the print itself acts as a record of production and consumption of materials at the time? The cost and effort influenced who saw it? Curator: Exactly. And that accessibility, or lack thereof, shaped how Musitano, likely a patron himself, was perceived and consumed by society. Editor: That makes me see the work in a completely different way. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Focusing on the 'how' often illuminates aspects we'd otherwise overlook.