Head of the Apollo Belvedere, after antiquity 1779 - 1784

Curator: Up next we have Nathaniel Marchant's intaglio, "Head of the Apollo Belvedere, after antiquity." Its small size lends it a certain intimacy. Editor: My first impression is one of idealized masculinity, frozen in this smooth, pale stone. It's a very specific, classical vision. Curator: Absolutely. The Apollo Belvedere was a cornerstone of Western art history, used to justify standards of beauty and power, often reinforcing colonial structures. Marchant is participating in that tradition. Editor: I see Apollo's associations with light, reason, and order. This image has served as a symbol for so long, its cultural weight is undeniable. But the whiteness is also striking. Curator: Indeed, the image naturalizes whiteness as the default, which is still an ongoing issue in the arts and in society. Editor: Reflecting on this, the way symbols evolve and calcify truly shapes our perceptions. Curator: It challenges us to consider the legacies we've inherited and continue to perpetuate.