Portrait of Emperor Maximilian I as Saint George c. 1505

Editor: This is Daniel Hopfer's "Portrait of Emperor Maximilian I as Saint George." I'm struck by the detail of the etching, particularly how the lines create such depth. What’s your perspective on this piece? Curator: Consider the context: printmaking at this time was a highly skilled craft, often commissioned. The Emperor’s image, mass-produced, became a tool. What does it tell us about the consumption of power and the artist's role within that system? Editor: So, it's less about the artistic merit and more about the social function of the print? Curator: Precisely. It prompts questions about artistic agency and the commodification of image-making in the 16th century. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, and a reminder to look beyond the surface.