Road Through the Wood c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Johannes Ruischer's "Road Through the Wood," an intriguing print from the Harvard Art Museums. I’m struck by the intricate linework. What can you tell me about the materiality of this image? Curator: Notice the plate’s dimensions. It’s quite small. The means of production - engraving - allowed for reproduction and wider distribution. Consider the social context: who was consuming these images and why? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn’t thought about the role of reproducibility in art like this. Curator: The labor involved in creating the plate versus the potential for mass consumption complicates traditional notions of art, doesn’t it? Editor: It really does. It opens up a whole new way of thinking about the piece. Curator: Indeed. It’s about labor, materials, and the social life of images.