Saint Sebastian 17th-18th century

Editor: Here we have Bernard Picart's Saint Sebastian, an early 18th-century engraving. The fine lines are incredible! What can you tell me about the means of producing such delicate details? Curator: Look closely at the plate’s surface. The incised lines, filled with ink, reveal a process of immense labor. Consider the engraver's tools, the quality of the metal, and the printing press used to replicate this image. How does its material existence affect its value as a devotional object versus a commodity? Editor: That's fascinating. I never considered how the printing process itself would influence its reception. Curator: Indeed. The reproductive process democratizes the image, impacting both its spiritual and commercial worth. What does this tell us about the changing status of art and religion in the 18th century?