Study for "La Caricature" 1831

Curator: This is Auguste Raffet’s "Study for 'La Caricature'," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Look closely at the rough energy of the ink wash. Editor: It feels incredibly charged, like a powder keg about to explode. The figures are so dynamically rendered. Curator: Absolutely. Raffet was deeply engaged with the socio-political landscape of his time. This work, though a study, reflects the period's turbulent struggle for free expression and resistance against censorship. Editor: You can see the symbolic destruction of text, the written word being literally smashed apart. It raises questions about who controls the narrative, and who has the power to silence dissenting voices. Curator: Indeed. The print "La Caricature" was a satirical journal. Raffet, along with others, used it to critique power structures. This image becomes a potent commentary on the role of art as a form of political activism. Editor: It's still very relevant today, reminding us that art can be a powerful tool for social commentary and change. Curator: Exactly. A study in resistance captured with remarkable immediacy.