A Lioness Attacking a Horse 16th-17th century

Editor: This is Antonio Tempesta’s "A Lioness Attacking a Horse," made around the late 16th or early 17th century. The level of detail achieved through engraving is pretty amazing. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Consider the labor involved in creating this small, intricate print. Each line was carefully etched, demanding time and skill. How does that influence your understanding of its value as an object? Editor: So, more than just the image itself, the value lies in the intense labor of its production? Curator: Precisely. And what does the mass production of prints mean for the art market, historically? Was this readily available or exclusive? Editor: I guess it democratized art but maybe devalued the original work. Curator: Exactly! Food for thought.