Medea Embarks with Jason (Soudain de nuit avec Jason Medée laissant Colchis en l'Argo est montée), from "Jason and the Golden Fleece" 1563

This print, made in the 16th century by René Boyvin, depicts Medea’s departure with Jason. The artwork is rendered through engraving, a process demanding meticulous labor to incise lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Engraving was vital in disseminating images, acting as a reproductive technology before photography. Look closely and you'll notice a highly wrought border framing the central scene, which presents classical figures within complex settings. The medium is essential to the picture’s meaning. Engraving allowed for detailed narratives to be circulated among a wide audience, democratizing access to classical stories. It’s important to acknowledge the skilled labor involved, and the degree to which artisans were essential to distributing and interpreting cultural narratives. It encourages us to think about who made such imagery available, and how it was received by different audiences. Engravings like this are not simply ‘art,’ but also products of a sophisticated craft tradition, reflecting a complex interplay of skill, labor, and social context.