"La Minerva" c. 17th century

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we find "La Minerva," an engraving by an anonymous artist. The stark black and white evokes an ancient world. Editor: Yes, the process itself, the sharp lines etched into the plate, feels almost brutal, a material assertion of power. Curator: Minerva, or Athena, embodies strategic warfare and wisdom. Her gaze toward the horizon suggests foresight. The owl is a symbol of knowledge and insight. Editor: And the severed head? Perhaps a commentary on the spoils of conquest? It's unsettling, this depiction of triumph over the defeated. It speaks volumes about the socio-political landscape. Curator: Indeed. Minerva’s stoic expression hints at the psychological weight of leadership, the burdens of strategic decision-making. Editor: Thinking about the engraving process, the labor involved...it makes you consider the economics that supported the production of even such a seemingly simple image. Curator: Seeing Minerva, it reaffirms how certain archetypes endure, even as societies and materials evolve. Editor: And for me, it is a window into the social and material conditions that birthed its creation.