Bull c. 19th century

Editor: We're looking at Alfred Alexandre Delauney's "Bull," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the texture; you can almost feel the coarse hair of the animal. What's your take on this etching? Curator: The etching process itself is key here. Delauney's labor in creating the plate, the biting of the acid, and the final print reveal a focus on the industrial reproduction of images and the democratization of art during his time. This challenges the traditional hierarchy elevating painting over printmaking. Editor: That's fascinating! How does the bull itself factor into this understanding of materiality and production? Curator: Consider the social context. The bull, often a symbol of power and agricultural labor, is here rendered through a mass-producible medium. It suggests a commentary on the changing relationship between humans, animals, and the means of production in 19th-century society. This etching captures a specific moment in material culture. Editor: I never would have considered that, it gives me a lot to think about. Curator: Indeed. It makes you wonder about the consumption and circulation of such images at the time, doesn’t it?