Mater amabilis c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Mater amabilis" by Faustino Anderloni, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The engraving is strikingly delicate. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the *means* of production: Anderloni, active during a period of immense social upheaval, is using engraving, a technique requiring specialized labor, to reproduce an image. This challenges notions of unique artistic genius. Editor: So, it’s less about the subject and more about how it was made? Curator: Precisely! Consider the social context and who consumed these prints. How did this availability alter the perception and value of the image itself? Editor: I see. Thinking about its reproduction changes the way I appreciate the image. Curator: Exactly! We are looking at both the material and the immaterial impact here.