The Funeral of the Burin (Frontispiece) 1877

Curator: Félix Buhot’s etching, "The Funeral of the Burin," presents a rather strange scene, don’t you think? The Harvard Art Museums house this print. Editor: Strange indeed! It feels like a fever dream. All those tiny figures, a train… chaotic and almost medieval in its detail. Curator: It’s a commentary on technology replacing traditional printmaking. The train, emblazoned with "L'Illustration Nouvelle, Paris 1877," symbolizes progress, while the swarm of figures represent the death of the burin. Editor: So, the winged figures are almost like souls departing? The burin, as a tool, is imbued with a spirit? It’s quite a powerful, if bleak, representation of artistic transition. Curator: Precisely! The burin's legacy is not just about technique, but about cultural memory. Buhot captures a pivotal moment in art history. Editor: It makes me think about how we memorialize the past in the face of constant innovation. A fitting piece for our times, still.