Tivoli 1793

Curator: This is Albert Christoph Dies' "Tivoli," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The absence of a creation date invites us to consider its historical context. Editor: It's incredibly picturesque! The way the town perches above the falls, there's a real sense of drama. Curator: Dies, an Austrian painter and draughtsman, likely created this print to cater to the Grand Tour market. The detailed rendering of the landscape served as a souvenir, a tangible piece of Italy. Editor: I wonder about the labor involved in its production. Was it a solitary pursuit, or were there workshop assistants involved in creating multiple impressions? And what about the labor of those who built that town above? Curator: Precisely! Understanding the printmaking process and the social dynamics of artistic production is crucial. The image reflects a specific gaze, one that romanticizes the Italian landscape while potentially obscuring the realities of its inhabitants. Editor: It makes you think about whose story gets told and whose is left out of the frame. Thanks for that insight. Curator: It's all about peeling back those layers and seeing the artwork in its fuller context.