Venus Anadyomene c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Augustin de Saint-Aubin's "Venus Anadyomene", a lovely print from the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so intimate, like we're catching Venus at a private moment. What story does this image tell you? Curator: Consider the role of the printing press in democratizing access to classical ideals. This image, replicated and distributed, reshaped perceptions of beauty and femininity among a broader public. How does that impact its meaning for you? Editor: It makes me think about how images of women become so widespread, and what impact that has. The original context gets lost. Curator: Exactly. Think about how the act of replication changes the artwork’s social function and its power. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about in terms of art and its place in culture. Curator: Indeed, it's a reminder of how images participate in a continuous process of reinterpretation.