The Gardens of Ovid 1641

Editor: This is "The Gardens of Ovid" by Giacomo Lauro. It's an old print from a book, showing a formal garden layout. It feels very controlled and geometric to me. What stands out to you about its creation? Curator: The printmaking process itself is crucial here. The labor involved in engraving the copperplate, the materials of ink and paper, and the very act of reproduction speak to a specific mode of knowledge dissemination and consumption in its time. Editor: So, it's less about the garden itself and more about how the image was made and circulated? Curator: Precisely! Consider the social context. Who had access to these images, and what did it mean to possess and share them? The materiality carries meaning. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: Of course! Considering the means of production always adds another layer of understanding.