The Judgement of King Solomon c. 15th century

Editor: This anonymous print depicts "The Judgement of King Solomon." It has such a stark, graphic quality due to the medium. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Let's consider the production of this piece. The stark lines suggest a woodcut. How does the process of carving away material to create the image impact the visual language and the social context of its creation and distribution? Editor: That's interesting. It makes me think about the labor involved in creating the printing block. Curator: Exactly! And who had access to these images? Consider the materials, the process, and the audience. What does that tell us about the role of art in disseminating knowledge and power at the time? Editor: I hadn't considered that before. Thanks for your help! Curator: My pleasure! It's all about understanding art as a product of its material conditions.