Engelen in glorie c. 1607

Editor: Here we have "Engelen in glorie," or "Angels in Glory," from around 1607. It’s an etching, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. I find the sheer volume of angels packed into this relatively small space quite striking. It's overwhelming, in a way. What's your perspective on this piece? Curator: The technique employed – etching – is itself very interesting. The lines are built through acid biting into a metal plate, then inked and pressed. Consider the labour involved in creating this density of form with such an indirect process. It speaks to the value placed on skilled artisanship within the studio. Editor: So, it's less about the individual artist, and more about a broader workshop environment? Curator: Precisely. How did the availability and cost of copper plates impact production and distribution? Was this intended for wealthy patrons or a wider audience via print markets? These are essential questions for understanding the artwork's place in the material world. The iconography is important, sure, but we must focus on the materiality, and by extension, the labor inherent in its construction, to decode the context within which it came to be. Editor: That’s a very different way to look at art. Thinking about the process makes the image richer in a strange way. Thank you! Curator: Indeed, considering the social and economic aspects transforms the angel’s glory. It's all intertwined.