Edward Wortley Montagu 1776

Curator: This is John Raphael Smith's portrait of Edward Wortley Montagu, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The sheer opulence strikes me. The turban, the fabric... it speaks of privilege and a certain performative identity. Curator: Montagu was known for his fascination with Eastern cultures; the portrait highlights the 18th-century European fascination with the "Orient," often blurring lines between admiration and appropriation. Editor: Absolutely. How do we reconcile appreciating the artistic skill with understanding its problematic colonial undertones, the power dynamics at play? Curator: These images served a purpose: solidifying cultural narratives, influencing perceptions. Editor: It’s vital to acknowledge this legacy; images are rarely neutral, they're active participants in shaping our world.