Columbus c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Paolo Mercuri's "Columbus." Editor: It's striking how small the image is on the page. It almost feels like a postage stamp of a historical figure. Curator: Indeed. Mercuri, born in 1804, presents Columbus with a certain reserved dignity. It speaks volumes about the image of Columbus that was being cultivated and circulated. Editor: You can really see the hand of the engraver in the cross-hatching. The materiality of the printmaking process gives it a somber gravity, doesn't it? It is not about the man, but about the print. Curator: It's a portrait intended for mass consumption, simplifying a complex historical figure. How does a portrait like this function in the creation of a national narrative? Editor: Exactly. It makes you think about how images like this get consumed, reproduced, and ultimately, used. Curator: A worthwhile consideration in looking at Mercuri’s work here. Editor: Definitely, a fascinating intersection of labor, material, and history.