Women at the Sepulchre 1822

Editor: This is William Sharp's "Women at the Sepulchre." It's hard to pin down a date, but it's at the Harvard Art Museums. The etching itself is striking, almost ghostly. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The starkness directs us to Sharp's labor. The lines, etched meticulously into the plate, highlight the process of reproduction, and the distribution networks involved in circulating such imagery. Consider the social context of printmaking in the late 18th century—how does this image participate in the broader visual culture and economy of the time? Editor: So, it's less about the biblical scene itself and more about how Sharp made and disseminated it? Curator: Precisely. How does the print medium, with its inherent possibilities for replication and distribution, impact the reception and interpretation of this religious subject? The material reality of the print itself becomes the focal point. Editor: That makes me think about who could even access such prints. Thanks, I see it differently now.