Geestelijke in deuropening van kerk 1692 - 1714

Curator: This engraving, “Geestelijke in deuropening van kerk” or “Cleric in doorway of church,” was made between 1692 and 1714 by Thomas Doesburgh and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It uses line and figuration and shows a genre-painting scene in Baroque style. Editor: What first strikes me is the incredibly detailed linework and the contrast between the cleric in the doorway and the group of people outside the church. I wonder how this was produced, and what kind of statement, if any, Doesburgh wanted to make. What’s your interpretation of this piece? Curator: For me, the beauty resides precisely in the production of this work as an engraving. We should really analyze the socioeconomic implications of printmaking, with its emphasis on labor and distribution during that era. What type of paper was used and who had access to it? What purpose does this print fulfill? How was Doesburgh, the craftsman behind this artifact, supported? Does he occupy a position of economic stability and patronage? Editor: Those are great points! I hadn't thought about the accessibility of the art based on the material used. So, rather than seeing just a scene, we should be thinking about how this print circulated, and the means by which people engaged with visual culture. Was art more democratic due to these methods? Curator: Exactly. Understanding the social context of the materials used, from the paper itself to the ink and the tools for engraving, provides deeper insights into artistic production of the Baroque period. I consider the cultural conditions by which art and craftsmanship could either maintain class distinctions, or challenge boundaries by way of industrial replication. The material components shape, and dictate its function, dissemination and audience. Editor: That’s a new and unique way to think about it – from ink and paper, outward to society! It really transforms my perspective of art from something to be looked at, to something that’s been manufactured with resources that are both available to a wide number of individuals, or can restrict due to social limitations. I appreciate that expanded view. Curator: Glad to have shared a materialist viewpoint, the context really enhances and adds dimensions that would be easily overlooked by limiting yourself to analyzing figures.