The Morgue c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have a rather somber piece called "The Morgue," by an anonymous artist, found in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how densely packed the buildings are, almost suffocating. The light seems trapped, heavy. Curator: The image evokes a sense of public ritual and spectatorship around death, mirroring the architectural solemnity of the building. Do you notice the figures on the bridge? Editor: I do, like witnesses, maybe even mourners. And that lone figure gesturing... is he calling out in grief? The scene feels very theatrical. Curator: Perhaps. The morgue was a public space, a place of both identification and mourning—a shared cultural experience. Editor: It definitely makes you consider the collective nature of grief. I can't help but feel a sense of voyeurism, too. Curator: Indeed. The image captures a moment of communal sorrow and perhaps, a macabre fascination with the unknown. Editor: Ultimately, the lasting image is one of communal witnessing, and the very human urge to look, even when it hurts.