Thomas Nichols, Wakefield, Massachusetts, 1765 1963

Editor: This is Ann Parker's print "Thomas Nichols, Wakefield, Massachusetts, 1765." It's somber but also strangely decorative, and the inscription, "Arise ye dead," is so prominent. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: For me, it’s the labor embedded in its creation. Think of the physical act of carving the block, the materials used, the repetitive motions. This print becomes a record of that physical and social process of production. Editor: So you see the making of the print as important as its imagery? Curator: Absolutely. It makes you consider its broader social context: who was Parker, what was her access to materials and training? The "arise ye dead" takes on a new weight when considering the hands that made it. Editor: I never thought of it that way, how the process itself infuses the work with meaning. Thanks!