Profeet met twee engelen 1591 - 1647

Editor: This drawing, "Prophet with Two Angels" by Sisto Badalocchio, made sometime between 1591 and 1647, looks like a preliminary sketch with these figures emerging from the stone or the page itself. It feels very dynamic, almost like a scene from a play. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, immediately, I’m drawn to the lines. Look at the clear etching; the cross-hatching creates depth with very little shading. Considering its period, what do you think about the materials used, and their accessibility for a Baroque artist in that time? Editor: I suppose engravings and drawings were cheaper than oil paints and canvases. It’s interesting that this work democratizes the scene portrayed because of its medium. Curator: Precisely. Now think about the 'means of production.' Engravings could be reproduced and distributed more widely than a unique painting. How might that impact the work’s message, compared to, say, a single, monumental oil painting in a Roman palazzo? Editor: Ah, so this could reach a wider audience, perhaps spreading allegorical or historical narratives to people beyond the elite. The act of reproducing and circulating changes the artwork's social function! Curator: Exactly. Consider, too, the 'labor' involved – not just Badalocchio's hand, but the artisans reproducing the work, and the distribution networks. How do all these contribute to the meaning of the piece? Editor: This gives a whole new meaning to 'production', I will keep that in mind in the future when analysing other drawings or engravings. Curator: Indeed. Seeing the work through its material conditions and the process involved offers powerful new insights.