Descent from the Cross 17th-18th century

Editor: This is Charles François de Silvestre's "Descent from the Cross," a small etching, about 10 by 21 centimeters, at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the labor involved in this scene, all the figures and ladders. What does that labor mean in this image? Curator: Notice how the etching foregrounds the act of removal, the physical handling of the body. It strips away the divine mystique, focusing instead on the very human work of death and mourning. Editor: So, it's less about the religious symbolism and more about the material reality? Curator: Precisely! Consider the ladders, the cloth, the basket—tools for a job. The artist invites us to consider the means of production, challenging notions of high art versus craft by highlighting the materiality of the scene. What do you make of the figures’ clothing? Editor: I guess it makes the scene feel more grounded in everyday life. I hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks!