Hendrick Goltzius c. 17th century

Curator: This is Esme de Boulonois’s rendering of Hendrick Goltzius, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is how the etching feels both incredibly detailed and quite somber. Curator: Boulonois, as a woman engraver in the 17th century, was navigating a male-dominated field. How might her perspective differ when portraying another artist? Was she subtly critiquing the established canon through her craft? Editor: And what was her process? Look at the lines, the textures created. Consider the labor involved in replicating such detail with the tools she had. The materiality speaks to the artist's dedication. Curator: The choice of Goltzius, a celebrated engraver himself, adds another layer. Was this a tribute, a collaboration across time and gender? Editor: We can admire the skill while asking questions about the societal pressures and materials that shaped Boulonois's work. Curator: Precisely, it invites us to rethink the narratives around artistic production. Editor: It's more than just a portrait, it's a record of labor, talent, and time.