Rembrandt's mother with hand on chest: small bust 1631

Editor: Here we have Rembrandt van Rijn’s "Rembrandt's mother with hand on chest: small bust," an engraving from 1631. It’s a poignant image; the use of line makes the work look so delicate. What are your thoughts on this engraving? Curator: Looking at the materials and processes here, we can ask questions about the artist's labor and workshop practices. Printmaking allowed for the reproduction and distribution of images on an unprecedented scale. Consider the copper plate – mined, refined, etched. Each stage involved labor, each print a product for consumption. What does the ability to reproduce this image tell us about the social function of art at that time? Editor: It feels like because it’s an engraving, there are many copies and its value is reduced compared to one-of-a-kind oil paintings, is this a reflection of what you mean by consumption? Curator: Precisely. Think about who could afford prints, the market for them, and how that contrasted with the patronage system for painting. This brings the art object closer to the wider public, compared to unique artworks which might be exclusively available to aristocratic clientele. The intimacy of the portrait clashes with this accessibility; does it affect the viewers' understanding of her representation? Editor: So, seeing art in terms of production and materials shows me how accessible it was and challenges what makes an art valuable to a public! Curator: Exactly! Reflect on how focusing on material conditions can provide new interpretations of the work and how art reflects or affects socioeconomic status in seventeenth century Netherlands.