Charity with Three Children c. 18th century

Editor: This is John Skippe's "Charity with Three Children," created around 1782. I'm immediately struck by the earth-toned print and the subject of maternal care. How would you interpret this work? Curator: Let's consider the materials and the process of creating this print. Skippe was known for his chiaroscuro woodcuts, a technique mimicking drawings. What does it mean to reproduce a drawing, usually unique, through a multiple like a print? Is it about access, democratizing art? Editor: That's interesting. So, you're suggesting the medium itself speaks to the idea of charity, of sharing and distribution? Curator: Precisely. The choice of a repeatable medium implicates ideas of production, accessibility, and perhaps even consumption within its visual message of "Charity". Editor: I hadn't considered the printmaking process itself as part of the artwork's meaning. Thanks! Curator: Looking at the materials and production makes it much more rich.