Head-piece (?) c. 16th century

Editor: This is an intriguing work, an anonymous Head-piece (?), from the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like an engraving, perhaps? The playful figures seem to be in motion. What do you see in this piece from a materialist perspective? Curator: I see the labour embedded in the engraving process. Consider the artisan's hand precisely incising lines into the metal plate, a meticulous craft dictated by material limitations and the demands of reproduction. How does its intended use as a "Head-piece" affect our understanding of its creation and consumption? Editor: So, is it the functional aspect that defines its artistic value? Curator: Precisely! Its purpose as ornamentation reveals how art intertwines with everyday life, blurring distinctions between high art and functional object. This challenges notions of artistic autonomy, prompting questions about its original context and the social relations of its making. What can we learn about this object through a closer examination of its production? Editor: I hadn’t considered the link between art and labor so directly before. Curator: Indeed, every piece tells a story of production and consumption!