Seated Woman Wearing Striped Cloak, Seen from Behind c. 18th century

Curator: Up next we have, "Seated Woman Wearing Striped Cloak, Seen from Behind," an etching. The plate measures about 6 by 4 inches. It’s located here at the Harvard Art Museums and is attributed to A. Claude Philippe de Thubières comte de Caylus. Editor: There's something so melancholy about this figure, turned away. The stripes and folds in her cloak almost feel confining, like a beautiful prison. Curator: The count, as he was known, was part of the 18th-century French aristocracy, and he actively promoted the etching and other printmaking techniques to reproduce artwork widely and inexpensively. Editor: Imagine, someone of his status championing a more accessible art form. It suggests a real interest in art's social role. Curator: Exactly. The marks on this plate and the image as a whole point to a democratization of art-making, where even the elite could participate in a wider dissemination of images. Editor: I love that we are still discussing this image today. Curator: Me too. It is a quiet testament to the power of accessible art.