Head of a Bearded Man c. 20th century

Editor: This is George Lockwood's "Head of a Bearded Man," a print from the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the textures created by the layering of inks. What can you tell me about the artist's process? Curator: Lockwood’s choice of printmaking, a medium inherently tied to reproduction and distribution, speaks volumes. Consider the labor involved in each impression. The slight variations within the edition highlight the hand of the artist, complicating notions of mass production. Editor: So, the tension between the original and the copy is part of the meaning? Curator: Precisely. And the materials themselves - the inks, the paper - are not neutral. They carry their own histories of production and consumption, reflecting broader economic and social forces at play. Editor: I see. Looking at art this way really changes how I think about it. Curator: Indeed. By focusing on the material and the process, we gain a deeper understanding of the artist's choices and their connection to the world around them.