Study for "Cupid and Psyche" c. 1865

Editor: This is Edward Burne-Jones' Study for "Cupid and Psyche," currently at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the contrast between the white chalk and the brown paper. What can you tell me about the process of creating this? Curator: Consider how the materials themselves inform our understanding. The rough paper stock and chalk suggest a preliminary study, a moment in the workshop, not a finished commodity. Where did Burne-Jones source his paper, and how does that relate to Victorian artistic production? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't thought about the paper as a deliberate choice, more like just a practical one. Curator: Exactly. The deliberate selection and preparation of the material are just as important as the figure itself. Perhaps this choice allows us to see the labor involved, a glimpse into the means of artistic production that often remains unseen. Editor: So, by examining the materials, we get a richer understanding of the artist's process and the artwork's value. Thank you! Curator: It's been a pleasure. Reflecting on materiality can reveal so much about an artist's intentions and the historical context.