Freeing the Captive c. 17th century

Editor: This is "Freeing the Captive" by David Custos, an etching. The level of detail achieved with the medium is pretty impressive. What particularly strikes you about this image? Curator: I notice how Custos depicts the labour of incarceration. The chains, the blocks, the physical handling of the prisoners - it all highlights the material reality of control. Editor: So, you see a focus on the mechanics of power in the image? Curator: Precisely. And it invites us to consider who profits from that control, who bears the burden, and how the lines between high-minded justice and brutal craft become blurred. Editor: I never would have thought about it that way, but now I’m curious about the role of craft in conveying those political messages. Thanks for the insight. Curator: My pleasure. It's about looking beyond the surface and questioning the materials and processes that shape our understanding.