Jesus and Saint John as Children c. 19th century

Editor: This is Friedrich August Ludy's print, "Jesus and Saint John as Children." It's interesting how the artist chose printmaking to portray this religious scene. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Notice the meticulous labor involved in printmaking, a process often overlooked in favor of painting. How does the act of reproduction itself affect the reception and consumption of this religious image? Does it democratize access, or diminish the aura? Editor: That's a different way of thinking about it. I was so focused on the image itself. Curator: Consider, too, the socioeconomic context of print production in Ludy's time. How might the workshop environment have influenced the artist's choices and the final product? Editor: I hadn't considered the material conditions of its creation. Thanks for pointing that out.