Portret van keizer Constantius I Chlorus 1557 - 1559

Editor: Here we have a print from 1557 to 1559 by Joos Gietleughen, "Portret van keizer Constantius I Chlorus"—it seems to be an engraving in ink. It’s striking how much it resembles a coin. What do you see in this piece, Professor? Curator: Well, from a materialist perspective, I'm immediately drawn to the labor involved. Think about the production of this print: the engraving process, the ink-making, the paper manufacturing. These are all complex processes dependent on specific skills and available resources. How does the choice of printmaking as a medium impact its accessibility and circulation at the time? Editor: That's interesting. It democratizes the image compared to a unique painting, right? Were prints like these common? Curator: Exactly! Printmaking enabled wider distribution, serving political purposes but also impacting craft guilds and the economy. Look closely at the textures achieved through the engraving. How does the artist's skill with the burin contribute to the perception of quality and value? The depiction mimics the circulation and use of actual currency as propaganda. Editor: I see how focusing on the materials and production expands our understanding. So, beyond just being a portrait, it’s involved with economies of scale and production, ideas about wider distribution, and almost functions as an early form of mass media? Curator: Precisely! We can also consider the consumption of these prints. Who was buying them? What messages were they taking away? Analyzing this work through a materialist lens reveals connections between art, labor, and society. Understanding the production of this object leads us to appreciate the confluence of artistry, and the cultural and commercial forces that determined how the art object spread and its value determined. What a great case study in understanding Renaissance material culture! Editor: This has opened up a completely different perspective. I hadn’t considered the economic context so fully. Curator: Every material tells a story!