Title-border with Calumny of Apelles; mark of Froben by ? c. 16th century

Editor: This engraving, "Title-border with Calumny of Apelles; mark of Froben" by Ambrosius Holbein is incredibly detailed! The intricacy makes me wonder about the process. What can you tell me about how this piece was made? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the labor involved. Look at the precision of each line. The act of engraving itself, the tools used, and the skill required to manipulate them – these are all central to understanding its value. This wasn't simply about artistic vision. Editor: So, you're focusing on the physical creation rather than its meaning? Curator: Precisely. The materiality speaks volumes about the social context of artistic production at that time. We often overlook the sheer effort involved in pre-industrial printmaking. Thinking about the labor changes how we value the final product, doesn't it? Editor: It certainly does! I never considered how the means of production influence my appreciation of the art.