The Island of Corfu (Corfu insula) c. 16th century

Editor: This is "The Island of Corfu (Corfu insula)" by Hendrick van Cleve III. It looks like an engraving, and it's quite small. I'm struck by how the artist rendered the waves. What can you tell me about this artwork? Curator: Consider the engraving process itself. The labor involved in meticulously carving lines into the metal plate, the materials used – the copper, the ink, the paper. How does the social context of printmaking, its role in disseminating information and shaping perceptions of the world, influence our understanding of this image of Corfu? Editor: So, it's less about the island itself and more about how the image was made and distributed? Curator: Precisely. The consumption of such images speaks volumes about 16th-century European interests and the commodification of place. Editor: That makes me think about how this image might have shaped the viewer's idea of Corfu, regardless of whether they ever went there. Thanks! Curator: And it makes me think of the engraver's labor in shaping that idea. A worthwhile material analysis!