Inigo D'Avalos c. 1902

Curator: This bronze medal of Inigo D'Avalos is an intriguing piece, anonymous in its creation. The work currently resides at the Harvard Art Museums, with a weight of about 100 grams. Editor: It has a rather stoic, almost imposing feel, despite its small size. The material gives it a weighty presence. Curator: The figure depicted, D'Avalos, was likely a man of status. Medals like these functioned as portable declarations of power and legacy. Who had access to be immortalized this way and why? Editor: And what was the process of its making? This isn't just metal; this is someone shaping bronze, employing tools, and engaging in the physical act of representation. The craft involved is key. Curator: Absolutely. These kinds of artistic endeavors were often deeply embedded in networks of patronage and influence. Editor: Yes, thinking about the circulation of this object, how it was touched, traded, and viewed, also shapes its value beyond just the image it presents. Curator: Precisely. It makes you consider what narratives are perpetuated and which are obscured. Editor: It also shows how, even on a small scale, art is always bound to larger systems of production and power. Food for thought.