My son, remember that there can be no happiness without virtue 1804

Curator: This etching, titled "My son, remember that there can be no happiness without virtue," seems soaked in sorrow. Look at the son, collapsed in grief. Editor: Absolutely. The print presents an interesting tableau of patriarchal advice, and the insistence on virtue as the sole path to happiness. Curator: There's something so intensely human about it, though. It feels like a timeless scene of familial drama playing out. The artist, Jean Baptiste Simonet, really captured the raw emotion, don't you think? Editor: Yes, but the image idealizes the father as an authority figure, downplaying any structural inequalities that might impact one's access to happiness. Virtue alone doesn't solve systemic issues. Curator: Perhaps, but there's also a tenderness in the image. That supporting arm… it speaks volumes. A father's role isn't just about dictating virtues, but also offering comfort. Editor: It's a carefully constructed narrative of power, and it's important to critique that while acknowledging the emotive qualities you've mentioned. Curator: Well, it leaves me contemplating what virtue even means, and how happiness might be more complicated than we're led to believe. Editor: Indeed, it serves as a potent reminder to critically examine the values we inherit and their implications in a diverse world.