Judgement of Paris c. 18th century

Curator: Today, we’re looking at Pierre Étienne Moitte’s "Judgement of Paris," currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, that's a lot happening. Is it just me, or is there a bit of a chaotic energy to it, but also, strangely, it feels... balanced? Curator: It depicts the classical myth, of course. This print likely reflects the prevailing artistic and societal values concerning beauty and judgment at the time it was made. Editor: Right, with Paris playing judge to these three goddesses... I wonder, did Moitte feel any pressure in capturing what was deemed ideal beauty? Did it feel like its own kind of "judgment"? Curator: The artist's choices would certainly reflect, and perhaps subtly critique, those societal standards. Prints like this also helped disseminate ideas about art and beauty to a wider audience. Editor: I guess what really strikes me is the weight of that mythological story, still echoing in how we see beauty, even now. Curator: Precisely. Moitte's work prompts us to consider how those echoes still shape our own judgements.