[View of] Landshut c. 19th century

Editor: This is Georg Michael Kurz's "View of Landshut", held at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so calm, almost idyllic. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the material conditions that enabled its creation. This print speaks volumes about the rise of industrial reproduction and its impact on disseminating images of place and culture. Consider the labor involved in its creation, from the mining of the metals for the printing plates to the distribution networks that brought it to a wider audience. Editor: So, it's less about the pretty landscape and more about the how it was made and shared? Curator: Precisely. The image itself becomes a commodity, reflecting broader trends of industrialization and consumption. It invites us to think about the relationship between art, labor, and the marketplace. Editor: I never thought of it that way before, but it makes sense. Thanks! Curator: A fresh look at an old landscape; always something to learn about art’s making and unmaking.