Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury 17th-18th century

Curator: Pieter van Gunst, born in the latter half of the 17th century, created this engraving titled "Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury," now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Something about the starkness of the engraving gives it a somber, almost haunting quality, don't you think? It feels… austere. Curator: Indeed. The controlled lines and shading speak to the techniques prevalent in printmaking at the time; it was a medium dependent on skilled labor and intricate tooling. The social function was to disseminate images and ideas efficiently. Editor: I'm particularly drawn to the way his gaze seems both direct and distant. It makes me wonder what burdens he carried. Curator: It’s a portrait meant for circulation, designed to project authority and erudition through accessible means. Editor: Thinking about the hands involved—from artist to printer to distributor—brings it to life in a new way. Curator: Precisely. Recognizing those labor practices contextualizes the legacy of this work. Editor: It does put a human face to that history, doesn't it?