The Great Bartholdi Statue 1885

Editor: This is "The Great Bartholdi Statue: Liberty Enlightening the World", a lithograph print from 1885 by Currier and Ives. I find it interesting how the statue dominates the image, while the city seems almost… miniaturized. What stands out to you most about it? Curator: Oh, miniaturized cities—aren't they just darling? This image whispers to me of that heady brew of national pride and nascent tourism. The statue, a beacon of hope then and now, right? But look closely—isn’t it interesting how meticulously they've depicted the harbor traffic? Every little ship, rendered with care, adds to the sense of bustling activity. I wonder, does this speak to you of an immigrant’s first glimpse of freedom? Editor: I hadn't really thought of the ships in that way before! It makes me see the image as being more than just about the Statue itself, but about the journey and arrival it represents. So it’s also a neo-romantic and orientalist work… intriguing combination! Curator: Precisely! That touch of Orientalism was trendy back then – a dash of exotic spice to an already grand statement. This Statue offered a feeling of grandeur, that sort of over-the-top aesthetic was also present at the Neo-romantic movement at that time.. You can almost smell the sea air and hear the clatter of commerce, right? How wild to imagine people actually sailing into this scene! Does imagining this alter your perception, darling? Editor: It does! I was so focused on the artistic style, I had not focused on the journey the sculpture represented. Curator: And isn't that just the heart of art? It shows us there’s always another voyage to embark on if we dare to look again, again and again…