De paus op een varken 1680 - 1720

Editor: This print, "The Pope on a Pig," is attributed to an anonymous artist and dates back to between 1680 and 1720. It looks like an engraving. The Pope riding a pig certainly makes a statement, but what does it all *mean*? What catches your eye here? Curator: I immediately consider the production process and its context. Engravings like this were often cheaply produced and widely circulated, essentially an early form of mass media. The choice of engraving implies a desire for broad distribution, to reach a larger audience than a unique painting could. Consider also the deliberate roughness of the lines, indicative of fast production; does this suggest an emphasis on quantity over "artistic" quality? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't considered that. It changes my perception. I assumed its simplicity came from lack of skill, but now it makes me wonder about its audience. Was it for the elites, or common people? Curator: Definitely not the elites! The image, the very *materiality* of this print, screams political propaganda aimed at the masses. Look at the choice of the pig. Why that animal? The artists probably had specific references in mind, and a cultural association to invoke, think filth, impurity, "un-christian" habits? Also consider, how does the printed text contribute? Is it meant to be factual, or inciteful? Editor: Good point, and that helps explain why the lines are the way they are, almost aggressively etched. It makes it feel urgent. So you’re saying its value lies less in its artistic finesse and more in its function as a tool of persuasion? Curator: Precisely! The engraving, the ink, the paper - these weren't just artistic choices; they were calculated decisions to disseminate a particular message in a society deeply divided along religious lines. Ultimately, it is less about the quality of the engraving and more about the quality of social critique enabled through this medium and deployed across religious discourse. Editor: I never would have looked at it that way. Considering the materials and method of production adds another layer to the history embedded in this image. Thank you!