Illustration from J. B. Porta, Magiae Naturalis (?) c. 16th century

Curator: Immediately striking, isn’t it? There’s a brooding intensity to the face, despite the delicate flowers woven into its winged headdress. Editor: Indeed. We're looking at an illustration from Giambattista della Porta's *Magiae Naturalis*, though the artist remains anonymous. These images circulated widely, reproduced through printing technology. The material processes are as crucial as the image. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the labor involved in producing the printing blocks, the distribution networks...and in what ways the text may have been accessible to diverse audiences. Editor: Given Porta's interest in the natural sciences and alchemy, it’s also worth asking, what social beliefs gave rise to the acceptance of magic and the occult? Curator: A lot to ponder. Its raw materiality, like its complex history, keeps pulling me in. Editor: Yes, a glimpse into forgotten perspectives that continue to ripple into the present.