Sand Casting 1767

Editor: Here we have Robert Bénard’s print, "Sand Casting," from the Harvard Art Museums. It seems to meticulously illustrate the process, step-by-step. What strikes you about it? Curator: I’m interested in the depiction of labor and the means of production. Each figure highlights a different stage, democratizing the knowledge of this craft. How might this dissemination impact the social hierarchy of the time? Editor: That’s a great point! Did prints like this challenge the traditional boundaries between high art and practical skills by making these processes more accessible? Curator: Exactly! This print invites us to consider the value of craft, its materials, and its role in shaping society. It emphasizes the tangible, the process of making. Editor: I hadn't thought about it in those terms. Now I see the print not just as an illustration, but as a statement about labor.