Anton Friedrich Büsching 1774

Curator: This is Georg Friedrich Schmidt's engraving of Anton Friedrich Büsching, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Something about it feels so... contained. Very formal. Like a respectable stamp. Curator: Indeed. Schmidt created this portrait long after Büsching had established himself as a prominent geographer and theologian. Editor: A geographer! That explains the globe peeking out from behind him. I like how the circular frame mimics the globe's shape. Curator: Precisely. The print circulated widely, cementing Büsching’s image and authority. Editor: It’s interesting how these images shaped public perception. It's like they controlled the narrative. Curator: They certainly played a crucial role in constructing and disseminating it. Editor: It makes you wonder about the narratives we're crafting today. Who gets framed, and how?