Knight, Death and the Devil c. 19th century

Editor: So, this is James Davis's "Knight, Death and the Devil," from the early 19th century, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It has a stark, almost gothic feel. What strikes you about it? Curator: I'm drawn to the etching technique. The lines themselves are the subject. Think about the labor involved, the repetitive act of creating these dense, cross-hatched shadows. This wasn't just about representation; it was about the means of production. What does the materiality evoke for you? Editor: It makes me think about the engraver as a craftsman. It's not just art, it's also labor. It makes me consider how the image circulated, who bought it, and how it was consumed. Thanks, I never thought about it like that! Curator: Exactly! The social life of the object is as important as its symbolism.