Queen of Heaven c. 19th century

Editor: This is Joseph von Keller's "Queen of Heaven." It looks like a print, and I'm curious about the materials used and the reproduction process in Keller's time. What can you tell me about its production? Curator: This print speaks to the industrialization of art reproduction. Consider the paper quality, the ink used, and the technologies that enabled von Keller to disseminate this image widely. How does the mass production affect its value? Editor: Interesting. So, thinking about how accessible this image was, did that change how people interacted with religious art? Curator: Absolutely. It democratized religious imagery. The labor involved, from the artist to the printer, is essential. It moves the sacred image from a singular devotional object to a commodity. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! Examining the means of production reveals so much about the context of art.