Daniel in the Lions' Den c. 17th century

Editor: This is Willem Pietersz. de Leeuw's "Daniel in the Lions' Den," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite striking, the way Daniel is surrounded by all these imposing lions. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the etching process as critical to understanding the work. The labor involved in creating the plate, the acidic bath, the repetitive action—it all emphasizes the effort to produce images for consumption. How does this imagery of power, Daniel's faith versus the lions' might, intersect with the material process in your opinion? Editor: That's an interesting connection. I guess the image of Daniel being spared is a product of considerable labor, and that makes it all the more impressive. Thank you! Curator: Absolutely. The material process informs the narrative.