Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine 1768

Editor: This is Gilles Demarteau's "Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine," housed here at Harvard. The use of sanguine chalk is quite striking, giving the piece a warm, intimate feeling. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: I see an example of how reproductive prints blur lines between art and craft. Demarteau wasn't creating an original composition, but reproducing Boucher's design. Consider the labor involved, the process of engraving, and how this made art accessible to a wider audience. Editor: So, it's less about artistic genius and more about the means of distribution? Curator: Precisely! It's about understanding the social and economic context of art production and consumption in the 18th century. Editor: Interesting! I never thought of it that way. Curator: Considering the material conditions transforms our understanding of artistic value.