Europa; Illustration to Ovid's "Metamorphoses" c. 1767

Editor: This is Augustin de Saint-Aubin's "Europa; Illustration to Ovid's Metamorphoses," at the Harvard Art Museums. It's an intricate engraving. The textures seem quite varied for printmaking. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Consider the printmaking process itself. The engraver meticulously translated Boucher's design, mediating between the artist's original intent and the consumption of art through mass production. How does this reproductive method affect the perceived value and accessibility of the artwork? Editor: So, it's not just the image, but also the means of its creation and dissemination. I see it differently now. Curator: Precisely, by understanding the labor and materiality involved, we challenge notions of artistic genius and the unique art object.