Coe 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Sidney L. Smith’s print, "Coe," currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a portrait of a man rendered in delicate lines. Editor: He looks terribly serious, doesn’t he? Almost like he’s about to deliver some very important, but also very boring, news. The etching is like a whisper – subdued, respectable. Curator: Portrait prints like this served a vital function. Before photography was widespread, they circulated images of prominent individuals, shaping public perception. Editor: It’s fascinating to think about how someone deliberately cultivates an image. It's such a contrast to today's constant stream of candid, unfiltered moments. Curator: Indeed. Smith, as a printmaker, played a key role in distributing and perpetuating certain ideals of the elite. The choice of etching, with its refined lines, reinforces a sense of dignity and control. Editor: You know, looking at it now, I see a bit of melancholy in the lines around his eyes. Maybe it's not boredom, but a quiet contemplation. That changes everything, doesn’t it? Curator: It does shift the narrative, reminding us that even within formal portraits, there's room for individual expression and interpretation. Editor: A reminder that even serious gentlemen have their quiet moments of reflection, captured in these faint lines.