Landschap met de roeping van de apostel Petrus 1580 - 1600

Editor: We're looking at "Landscape with the calling of the Apostle Peter" by Johann Sadeler I, made sometime between 1580 and 1600. It's an engraving, and it feels very detailed and almost theatrical in its presentation of nature. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: As a print, its value isn't so much in Sadeler’s individual touch, but more as a commodity, right? Consider its function – images like these circulated widely. What kind of labor went into producing multiples of this engraving, and what kind of social capital did that represent? Editor: I see, it's less about the artistry of a single piece and more about the process. So, the distribution was significant? Curator: Precisely! And think about the consumption. Who bought this? What was its intended use? Was it a devotional aid, a display of worldly knowledge, or perhaps both? This print democratizes access to art. Does the wide circulation change its perceived cultural value? Editor: That makes me consider the actual materiality of the print itself, and how many times this could have been reproduced. Is it like mass production? Curator: Not quite the mass production of a later industrial age, but it certainly challenged the idea of the unique, precious artwork. Look at the labour that was poured into each impression. There's tension here, between craft and something approaching mass culture. It makes one wonder if boundaries separating them are truly artificial constructs Editor: That gives me a new perspective! The act of making multiples changes how we perceive the work itself, like flipping high art on its head. Curator: Exactly. It prompts us to rethink value beyond just aesthetic beauty, considering the societal and economic forces at play in its creation and consumption.