Procession of the Flitch of Bacon 1832

Curator: James Henry Watt's "Procession of the Flitch of Bacon" depicts a large group, many on horseback, in what seems a festive, though somewhat unclear, event. Editor: The eye certainly moves around a lot; it seems chaotic at first glance. The composition doesn't quite settle. Curator: Right. The historical context is key here. This work likely represents a social ritual, the 'Flitch of Bacon' tradition, where a married couple proves their marital fidelity to win a side of bacon. Editor: So, the flitch symbolizes marital success, almost like a trophy? But the scale feels off, doesn't it? The figures are rendered with such detail, yet they seem somewhat flattened against the backdrop. Curator: That flattening is interesting. Watt's printmaking process involved intense labor, translating a scene of communal labor and judgment into a commodity. The image itself enters into a circulation of social values. Editor: I find myself drawn to the couple at the center; their pose and the subtle shading suggest an almost theatrical display of virtue. Curator: Indeed. The print serves as a visual record of a performance, a mediated form of judgment on domestic labor and morality. Editor: Thinking about this piece, I now appreciate its ability to capture both a cultural moment and the artifice inherent in its presentation. Curator: Precisely. It invites us to consider the values and social structures underlying even seemingly simple traditions.