The Seated Cowherd, Roman Monuments c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jean Morin's etching, "The Seated Cowherd, Roman Monuments." It's a black and white print housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the quiet melancholy of it all. It's as if the grandeur of Rome is slowly dissolving back into the earth, becoming one with the pastoral scene. Curator: Indeed, the crumbling Roman architecture becomes a stage for the everyday. See how Morin contrasts the permanence of stone with the transience of life? Editor: The figures are fascinating. That bas-relief—such drama! But the cowherd and his flock seem utterly indifferent, going about their simple lives amidst the ruins. Is it commentary on the cyclical nature of empires? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe it’s about finding beauty and peace even in decay. It’s a reminder that nature endures, even when human constructs crumble. Editor: Ultimately, I think what draws me in is how Morin captures the feeling of time itself, layered like the sediments of history, all in this tiny little print.