Marcus Agrippa c. 19th century

Curator: We're looking at Gaetano Bonatti's rendering of Marcus Agrippa here. What’s your initial reaction? Editor: The striking blankness of the eyes gives it a sense of cold, almost alien detachment. It makes me think about how removed we are from the people represented. Curator: Exactly. Agrippa, a close confidant of Augustus, was instrumental in shaping early imperial Rome. Think about the material conditions that allowed for this image to be circulated as a print. Editor: It's easy to forget the layers of labor involved in replicating even this bust. The quarries, the artisans, the printers—each with their own role in shaping not just the art, but also our access to it. Curator: Indeed, and also, it speaks to the construction of power. How did Agrippa's identity reinforce Rome’s dominance, and how are those echoes still with us today? Editor: Thinking about it this way makes me see how it’s not just a portrait, but a document of complex social forces. Curator: Precisely, and an invitation to look critically. Editor: A worthwhile perspective.