Faith c. 19th century

Curator: There's a certain somberness that comes across in this print; it's rather striking. Editor: Indeed. What we're looking at here is Lodovico Ferretti's "Faith," found within the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. The monochrome print work speaks volumes about the socio-economic considerations around art production and distribution at that time. Curator: And given the subject, one would expect a more glorious depiction. Yet, this Faith, seated, with chalice in hand, seems weighed down, almost burdened by her role. Editor: Perhaps that's the point. Faith, as an idea, as an institution, often carries the weight of societal expectations. The printmaking process itself, involving labor and reproducibility, democratizes the image of Faith and questions the elite's ownership of such concepts. Curator: So, through its very materiality, it invites a new reception of Faith? Editor: Precisely. The politics of imagery are never divorced from the means of its production. It encourages engagement, discussion, and maybe even dissent. Curator: It certainly does make you think about the relationship between belief and its portrayal. Editor: Absolutely, and how the medium influences our reception of those core values.