Genius of Harvest 

Curator: This engraving is entitled “Genius of Harvest” by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, showcasing his Neoclassical style through a mythological scene. It feels rather unusual, what do you make of it? Editor: Well, the image features a winged figure in a barrel-like cart being pulled by multi-headed serpents. How would you interpret this peculiar scene through a materialist lens? Curator: I think it's critical to consider the material process. Piranesi used engraving, a technique of democratized reproduction, to distribute imagery referencing the elite world of Roman mythology to a broader audience. We should think of the socio-economic factors surrounding this. Engravings were commodities, and their subjects were often determined by market demand. Was there a fascination with Roman mythology or a need to reinforce certain power structures through allegorical representation? Editor: So, it's less about the high-art symbolism and more about how this image was manufactured, disseminated, and consumed in its time? Curator: Exactly. Think about the role of printmaking in disseminating ideas, essentially packaging cultural capital for consumption. Who were buying these prints and what did they signify in their homes? Consider the labor that went into both the physical creation of the engraving and the cultural work it performed. Is this about elevating classical knowledge, or capitalizing on its aesthetic appeal? Editor: That changes my perspective. I initially saw it as a straightforward mythological scene, but thinking about it as a commodity… it exposes how even “high art” can be deeply entangled with production and consumerism. Curator: Precisely! Seeing it through this lens opens it up for critical consideration about labor, distribution and class, stripping away romanticized notions. Editor: Thank you, that helps put a new perspective on examining artwork through production and material contexts. Curator: And it also helps you look critically at contemporary art!