Christuskind bouwt een huis 1617

Editor: This is "Christuskind bouwt een huis," or "Christ Child Building a House," an engraving made in 1617 by Christoffel van Sichem II. The textures created by the engraving are striking and emphasize the physical labor in the image. What are your thoughts when looking at this print? Curator: This piece invites a materialist reading right away, given its medium and subject matter. It shows us a holy scene—Christ as a child working alongside presumably Joseph and other figures with halos – all engaged in carpentry. The labor is not glorified, however; it's presented plainly, almost as everyday work. Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. Curator: Notice, too, the economic reality it hints at. Engravings like these were commodities themselves. Van Sichem wasn't just depicting labor; he was participating in it. The creation of prints involved skilled labor and capital investment, consider the workshops, apprenticeships, the cost of the materials - metal plates and paper - the means for wide distribution. Editor: That's a good point. I hadn’t thought about the print itself as part of the same world of labor. Was this image meant for a specific audience? Curator: Perhaps those who toiled daily – the artisans and laborers of the 17th century. Seeing the holy family engaged in similar work could be seen as ennobling everyday labour and an endorsement of a more materially focussed understanding of Christ’s presence. It creates a link between the earthly and the divine, and through its mechanical reproducibility, ensures greater and wider viewership. Editor: So, by examining the material conditions of its creation, and understanding the contemporary audience for it, we start to see how it might challenge traditional, elitist definitions of fine art. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing your perspective! Curator: Of course! Looking at the art in its material reality makes for some refreshing insights.