Christ c. 18th century

Curator: This is Johann Georg Bergmüller's "Christ," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Look closely at the etching technique. Editor: It feels light, airy...almost like a dream. The lines are so delicate, yet they carry such weight. A beautiful rendering. Curator: Exactly. Bergmüller, active in the 18th century, likely aimed for wide distribution of his religious imagery, and etching allowed for that replication and dissemination of knowledge. Editor: I wonder what the artisans felt, recreating it each time. Did the act of repetition change its meaning? Or, perhaps, deepen their relationship to it? Curator: That's the crucial question. Was it work or worship? Object or symbol? Editor: Perhaps it's both, forever entwined. A little bit like this conversation itself, really. Curator: I suppose you're right, and understanding the materials helps us see the artist’s intentions more clearly, even centuries later.