Naphtali 16th-17th century

Editor: This is "Naphtali" by Johann Sadeler I, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m immediately struck by the detail in the engraving, especially the way he renders the textures of the hair and fur. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Focusing on the materiality, consider the copperplate engraving process itself. The labor involved in meticulously creating these lines, the accessibility of prints versus unique paintings, and the role this played in disseminating imagery and ideas. It challenges the traditional notion of the artist as singular genius. Editor: So, it's not just about what it depicts but how it was made and distributed? Curator: Precisely. And how that process democratizes art, making it available beyond elite circles, impacting early modern consumption and visual culture. It gives the artwork another level of significance. Editor: That’s a completely different way of seeing it! I’ll remember to look at art through that lens from now on.