Feeding the Hungry c. 17th century

Editor: This is "Feeding the Hungry" by David Custos, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like an etching or engraving. The contrast between the well-fed and the starving is so striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, the focus is on the *making* of charity. Look at the labor involved: the gathering, the cooking, even the distribution. The basket overflowing with bread, that's not just food, it's a symbol of productive, earthly work. How does that change your interpretation? Editor: I see it now! The process itself becomes part of the meaning, connecting the act of giving to the labor that sustains everyone. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. Considering the means of production really opens up the work.