Julius Caesar 1608

Curator: This engraving of Julius Caesar, by Wolfgang Kilian, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, gives me such a severe impression. The texture feels harsh, almost like a mask. Editor: The sharp lines are characteristic of the engraving process, which involves meticulously carving into a metal plate. Consider the labor required to create such detail, the access to tools and workshops needed, and the economic structures that enabled its production. Curator: It also feels so impersonal. Caesar, immortalized, but devoid of warmth. I wonder, did Kilian ever imagine Caesar’s thoughts, his struggles? Editor: Perhaps Kilian focused on representing power, the visual markers of authority. It's less about subjective experience and more about the material manifestation of Roman leadership. Curator: Maybe so. Though, seeing him now, I can’t help but wonder about the weight of that crown of leaves... both literally and figuratively. Editor: An interesting contrast. A light crown made weighty through depiction, and the economic weight that went into producing this image of it.