Hurlers 1675

Editor: This is Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella's print, "Hurlers," at the Harvard Art Museums. The figures seem to be in motion, perhaps carrying something. What can you tell me about the making of this work and what it might signify? Curator: This print offers an interesting look at the production and distribution of images in its time. Consider the labor involved in creating the plate, and the potential for mass reproduction. How does this relate to notions of artistic value and accessibility? Editor: So, you’re focusing on the means of production rather than the subject matter itself? Curator: Exactly. Look at the materiality of the print, the ink on paper. How does the artist's choice of medium affect the viewer's experience and understanding of the subject? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered before. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! It gives us a different appreciation of the work as an object of production and consumption.