The Parable of the Sower, Plate II c. 16th century

Editor: This is "The Parable of the Sower, Plate II," by Gerard de Jode. It depicts figures harvesting crops, and it appears to be some kind of engraving. What stands out to you? Curator: Notice the labor involved. This isn't just about faith; it's about the sweat and toil of agricultural production depicted through these figures. Consider how the material reality of farming shapes the narrative. What does the etching medium itself, with its reproducible nature, suggest about the spread of these ideas? Editor: So it's less about the religious story and more about how labor and materials are used to convey that story? I hadn't considered that. Curator: Exactly. It prompts us to question the relationship between the physical act of creation and the spiritual message.