Fishermen c. 18th century

Editor: This is "Fishermen" by Bernard Antoine Nicollet, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a print, and I’m struck by the contrast between the detailed figures and the almost dreamlike landscape. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The printmaking process itself is key. Consider the labor involved in creating the plate, the mass production it enables, and how that democratizes access to art. Does this challenge traditional notions of artistic value for you? Editor: It does. I guess I hadn’t thought about the process influencing how we value it. Curator: Exactly. This work becomes less about Nicollet’s singular genius and more about the socio-economic context of printmaking and consumption. The materials and labor shape the art, wouldn't you say? Editor: Definitely. Thanks; I'll consider the means of production and its impact more carefully now.