Horizontal Grotesque with Five Panels Separated by Foliage Springing from the Heads of Winged Figures 1562

Editor: This small print, Horizontal Grotesque with Five Panels by Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau, is bursting with intricate detail. It reminds me of wallpaper. What can you tell me about how it was made? Curator: Given the precise lines and repetition, it was likely an engraving. The material reality of printmaking – the labor, the cost of copper plates – suggests a deliberate production intended for dissemination. Editor: So, not just a unique artwork, but something made for wider consumption? Curator: Exactly. It challenges the idea of the artist as solitary genius, and points to the commercial aspects of art production in the 16th century. What do you think of its purpose? Editor: Fascinating. I hadn't thought about the labor involved. I’ll definitely look at prints differently now. Curator: Indeed, let's appreciate the hands that made it.