Jupiter en Europa 1588 - 1592

Editor: This is "Jupiter en Europa" by Jacob Matham, created between 1588 and 1592. It's an engraving on paper housed at the Rijksmuseum. The landscape feels very constructed, almost like a stage set, and the figures are so meticulously rendered. What stands out to you when you look at this print? Curator: What grabs me is the labor involved in producing such a detailed print. Think about the engraver, Matham, meticulously cutting into the metal plate. Each line, each gradation of tone represents hours of work, transforming base metal into a commodity, an image circulated and consumed. And look closer, do you see any difference in the making between landscape and figures? Editor: Well, the figures seem to have more definition and shading compared to the landscape. Why is that? Curator: Precisely. It’s hierarchy manifested in technique. The nude bodies of Jupiter and Europa, central to the mythological narrative, receive more intense labor, signifying their higher status as subjects worthy of refined craftsmanship. Whereas, look at the landscape; do you think this division reflects a separation between art and craft during that period? Editor: Yes, it does seem to elevate figure drawing and mythological subjects. Curator: Consider also who had access to such prints. Were they for a broad audience, or did their cost and availability limit them to a specific class, reinforcing existing social structures? Think of the materiality not just as ink on paper, but also as evidence of patronage, skill, and controlled distribution within the social fabric of the time. Editor: It's interesting to consider how the physical creation and distribution reflect the power dynamics of the era. Thank you for making that so clear! Curator: And thanks to you, I am remembering just how radical seemingly traditional art was made to uphold a clear power structure!