Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) 1910

Editor: Here we have Louis McClellan Potter’s "Charles William Eliot," a bust made of plaster. The man seems formal and a bit stern. What can you tell me about this sculpture? Curator: I see a depiction of power and privilege, frozen in plaster. Eliot was president of Harvard for forty years, during which the institution shifted to an elitist, exclusionary model. How does this work reinforce or challenge existing power structures, do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way; it does feel like a celebration of authority. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. By analyzing art through the lens of social justice, we can better understand its impact on society.