Strasbourg Cathedral 1827

Curator: This print depicts Strasbourg Cathedral by F. J. Oberthür and resides in the Harvard Art Museums. The rendering of the towering gothic architecture immediately draws the eye upward. Editor: There’s a feeling of immense scale conveyed here. I’m curious about the materials used in both the cathedral's construction and Oberthür's printmaking process. Curator: Indeed, consider the labor and resources required to erect such a structure, and later to represent it through engraving. The cathedral, as a civic symbol, reflects the power structures that commissioned it. Editor: The cathedral was a source of regional pride. It served as a crucial instrument for civic identity formation during periods of political upheaval. I wonder about the consumption of images like these—were they intended as propaganda? Curator: Perhaps, but they also circulated as affordable keepsakes, documenting the architectural marvels of the era for a burgeoning tourist industry. Editor: Viewing this print allows us to rethink the consumption of such artworks—it wasn't purely about artistry. Curator: I concur, considering the historical and material implications gives us new perspectives. Editor: It’s fascinating how a seemingly straightforward depiction can open up such layers of interpretation.