Aurora and Cephalus 1821

Editor: So, this is "Aurora and Cephalus" by François Forster, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a beautiful print, all swirling clouds and figures. How do you see its materiality influencing our understanding of the myth it depicts? Curator: Well, consider the process of printmaking itself. The artist is mediating this grand mythological narrative through a mechanical, reproducible method. Doesn't that flatten the emotional depth, almost commodifying the drama between Aurora and Cephalus? Editor: That's a really interesting point! I hadn't thought about the implications of reproducibility in that way. Curator: And look closer—how does the labor involved in creating this image, from the artist’s hand to the printing press, impact our understanding of divine love and celestial power? Perhaps these gods aren’t so removed from earthly concerns after all. Editor: I see what you mean. It certainly provides a different angle on the story. Thanks for sharing your insights.