Holy family with a go-cart c. 18th century

Editor: We're looking at Pierre Étienne Moitte's print, "Holy Family with a Go-Cart," held at the Harvard Art Museums. The composition strikes me as unusual, almost domestic. What do you see in the formal arrangement of figures and objects here? Curator: The print presents a fascinating study in contrasts. Note the interplay between the solidity of the figures and the delicate lines defining their drapery. The "go-cart," a seemingly incongruous element, disrupts the traditional pyramidal structure we might expect in depictions of the Holy Family. Editor: So, the disruption invites us to reconsider the work's meaning? Curator: Precisely. The introduction of such an object compels us to analyze the formal relationships within the piece, challenging our assumptions about its subject matter. The viewer must reconcile the classical composition with the vernacular. Editor: I see what you mean. It’s less about religious symbolism and more about the formal tension Moitte creates. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Focusing on such qualities allows a deeper understanding of this intricate composition.