Illustration from Adelphi, The Brothers c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an anonymous illustration from "Adelphi, The Brothers." It's quite stark, with these bold black lines. What can we learn by looking closely at the materiality and its context? Curator: Note how the very process of woodcut—the labor involved in carving away at the block—directly informs the image. Consider the class implications of readily available printed images like this. How did it democratize access to narratives, and what were the social consequences? Editor: That's a great point. So, it's not just about the figures depicted, but also about who had access to this kind of image? Curator: Precisely. Who was consuming these images, and what impact did the production have on the dissemination of stories and the construction of social values? Editor: This gives me a whole new appreciation for these types of illustrations. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's about looking beyond the image, at the world it inhabits, and the hands that made it.