Illustration XXIV c. 1489

Curator: "Illustration XXIV" is a rather direct depiction. One cannot help but consider the labor involved in producing such a detailed piece within a book format. Notice the ink, the paper, the block printing – all testify to a significant investment of resources and skilled craftsmanship. It makes you wonder about the accessibility of such images, and who they were made for. Editor: It definitely feels like a rare glimpse into a very specific world of art production! How does this focus on materials and process affect our understanding of the image itself? Curator: It redirects our attention. Rather than simply contemplating the emotional content, we can start thinking about the social context. Who commissioned this? What kind of workshop created it? How was it distributed? By focusing on the materiality, we unlock a whole new set of questions and possible interpretations. Editor: That's really insightful. I'll definitely look at art with a more material-focused eye from now on.